You can feel secure about your gifts.

"Dearest brothers and sisters:  All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change."  (James 1: 17).

I have received emails that have in the subject line: "Information that you can use now."  The Scripture from James 1: 17 is Scripture that we can use right here and right now.  In the hustle and bustle of life,  we need to pause to consider the source of the blessings we enjoy: good health, family, great job, strong bank account, etc.  How do you feel when you read that all your blessings actually come from God?
Sacred Scripture wants us to count our blessings:

"Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion, Who fills your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."  (Psalm 103: 1 - 5).

If every good gift we enjoy comes from God, then we should feel very secure about the gifts we have. (Cf Romans 11: 29).

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  (John 13: 17).

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Congratulations My good and faithful servant.

"Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability."  (Matthew 25: 14 - 15).

Have you ever met a human being with zero gift of time, talent or treasure?  No! God gives to each human being a gift of some time, talent or treasure "each according to his ability."  That is, each according to his predestined purpose.

No matter how long it takes the Master to come, be assured that there will be settling of accounts sooner or later.
"After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them." 
(Matthew 25: 19).

Those servants who have made good yields on the investment will be congratulated and promoted. Losers will be severely reprimanded and punished.
"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy."  (Matthew 25: 21).

To be faithful is to be steadfast, constant in a task. Mary is faithful to prayer.  Mother St Teresa of Kolkata says that God does not expect us to be successful but expects us to be faithful.

"Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters."  (1 Corinthians 1: 26).
Who are you before the Master employed you?  Never forget why you were chosen, called and anointed.

Although we started off being nobodies and having nothing, we have been richly endowed, resourced and placed in good positions to yield rich harvest for our Master.

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I do not know you, madam.

"Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."  (Matthew 25: 12).

These are the words of the bridegroom [Jesus] to the Five Foolish Virgins. God forbid that anyone of us will hear this sharpest of rebukes on the Last Day. Yet the Foolish Virgins behaved very foolishly.  They were duly warned.  Be prepared.  The Bridegroom has a reputation for being delayed. Expect this. They failed to heed the warning.

Here is another warning:
"Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.  But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."  (Matthew 10: 32 - 33).

Those who are perishing call such warnings foolishness but to us who are being saved it is the wisdom and mercy of God.  (Cf 1 Corinthians 1: 18).

"Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  (John 18: 37).
Do you belong to the truth? Do you recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd?

"Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."  (Matthew 25: 13).

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You also must be prepared.

"Jesus said to His disciples: 'Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come."  (Matthew 24: 42).

Two lessons I learned as a Boy Scout have served me well:
#1. "Be Prepared."
#2.  "Fortune favors the brave."  Or "Fortune favors the prepared mind."

Thank You Jesus for these nuggets of wisdom that have blessed us so much in life.  Make us ready and well prepared every moment for everything as we joyfully wait for Your coming.

Jesus wants us to be prepared for His coming anytime.
"So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
(Matthew 24: 44).

St Augustine writes:  "If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."  Prayer is core to all preparation.
My brethren, "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mark 8: 36).

"My master is long delayed." 
(Matthew 24:  48). Wrong attitude!

Here is a comforting promise:
"He [God] will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  (1 Corinthians 1: 8 8 - 9).

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I grant you half of my kingdom.

 “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.”  (Mark 6: 23).

This is the boast of King Herod, a mere mortal.  Do you see why it is said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? 

Here is the promise of the Father to His Son Jesus:
"Ask it of me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and, as your possession, the ends of the earth."  (Psalm 2: 8).
Is Herod playing god?

The young princess who delighted Herod by her dance knew how to manipulate men.
“I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”  (Mark 6: 25).
This is what her mother wanted in order to remove once and for all the menace of John the Baptist.

"So he [Herod] promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison." (Mark 6: 27).

The true story:  God,  willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of His Son both in his birth and in his death.  The martyrdom of John the Baptist is in accordance with the gracious plan of God.

"John answered and said:
He must increase; but I must decrease."  (John 3: 27, 30). He sacrificed his life completely for Jesus.  We too must decrease if Christ will increase in us.

"And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.... Even all the hairs of your head are counted.  So do not be afraid."  (Matthew 10: 28, 30 - 31).

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The man who said - Receive what you are and become what you receive.

"Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."  (2 Thessalonians 2: 15).

The Church celebrates today the feast of St Augustine, the son of St Monica whose feast day is August 27th.  Our key Scripture teaches about holding fast to traditions both oral and written.  As Bishop, Church Father and Doctor of the Church, Augustine knows a great deal about Sacred Scripture, Traditions and Church authority.

Augustine had great passion for Jesus, truth and the Church.  He evangelized relentlessly by preaching and writing. Some of his best known words are:
"O Lord, You have made us for Yourself. Our hearts are restless until they rest in You."  How true!
On the Eucharist, Augustine writes:
"Receive what you are and become what you receive."  Great challenge but this is the Christian vocation.  To become like Jesus.

Saints Monica and Augustine pray for us.

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When you are under trials, do not reduce your prayers and good works.

"We ought to thank God always for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more."  (2 Thessalonians 1: 3).

St Paul congratulates the Thessalonian Christians on their growing faith. Very interesting.  But how does St Paul know that their faith is flourishing?
Because of their "endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions" they experience. (2 Thessalonians 1: 4).

So when you endure in your prayers, word of God and good works under afflictions and persecutions, rejoice because your faith is surely growing.  If you give up your practice of faith under God’s afflicive providences, you put your faith in reverse gear. Don't do it.

"This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering."  (2 Thessalonians 1: 5).

St James joined Paul in teaching the great lesson of perseverance under trial:
"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).

So brothers and sisters,  "Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?"  (Hebrews 12: 7).

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Do you also want to leave?

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”  (John 6: 67).

Today thousands are leaving the Church of Jesus Christ, the Church of the Eucharist and heading to New Age, Yoga, Eastern Mystery Religions, so-called non-denominational churches but in reality denominational churches of the pastors.

There is no surprise about all this because "Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him."  (John 6: 64).

But those sanctified with faith by the Holy Spirit will respond like Peter: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6: 68 - 69).

I too have come to know and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life.  I raise up my hand and declare with Joshua:
“If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”  (Joshua 24: 15).

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12: 30).

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Practice what you preach.

"They preach but they do not practice."  (Matthew 23: 3).

Jesus tackles a key problem of the scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel of today.  He is not castigating the necessary work of all preachers, evangelists, teachers of the word, catechists, parents etc.  His message is pointed and can be understood by a child.  When you practice what you preach, your message is so much authentic and effective.  No missionary dares overlook this lesson.  The people you evangelize are watching you closely. They have one question in their minds:  "Is he real?"

Let us consider some of the things we teach and preach that we should practice:
Faith, patience, kindness, goodness, humility, chastity, mercy, etc.  All these are qualities of Jesus.

How do we practice Mercy for example?  Remember the ABC of Mercy?
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

Sounds simple? Yes indeed. God Never refuses Mercy to anyone who asks.  Remember the steward who owes his master over $100 million and could not repay him?  The Master [Jesus] said to the servant:
"You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to." (Matthew 18: 32).
No matter how much debt/sin we have, God is willing to forgive us everything, always and everywhere.
He wants us to be merciful to people who owes us much less.

So brothers and sisters,
Believe what you hear/read from the word of God.
Teach what you believe.
Practice what you teach.
And you will hear from the Master:
"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy."  (Matthew 25: 21).

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My Eyes are always on you.

"Jesus answered [Nathaniel] and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”  (John 1: 48).

The astonished Nathaniel exclaimed that whoever could do this is the Son of God and the King of Israel.  But we Christians, sons and daughters of God know that Jesus is aware of where we are this moment and every moment.  He knows our thoughts and our desires.  He is aware of all our predicaments, our needs right to minutest one. David writes in the Psalms that we cannot hide from God. (Cf Psalm 139: 7 - 12). Don't even try.

Aren't you super delighted to know that the all-pervasive Big Eye of God is following you everywhere.  All for your good and not for your disaster. (Cf Jeremiah 29: 11).  He who promised "Behold I am with you always" (Matthew 28: 20) can never deceive nor be deceived.  He urges you to cast all your cares on Him and promises to sustain you because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5: 7). He is worthy of your trust.

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Everything is ready. Come on to the party.

“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son."  (Matthew 22: 2).

Remember that the Church is the seed of the Kingdom of God on earth.  Remember too that the wedding feast is the image of the Eucharist and the King here is Jesus.

The King cries out: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast." (Matthew 22: 4).

A heart felt invitation is issued to the friends of the King.  See what happens:

"Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them."  (Matthew 22: 5 - 6).

Not only did many of the invited guests reject the invitation contemptuously but to add grave insult to injury, some guests mistreated the messengers and killed them. The chosen and invited guests have proved themselves very unworthy of the great honor done to them.

Sunday is the day Christians are asked to leave work and worldly past times and come and worship the Lord.  How sad it is to read that less than 30% accept the invitation. What is going on?

"Many are invited, but few are chosen.”  (Matthew 22: 14).
Lord Jesus, help us to be the ones who are chosen.

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The Queen stands at Your right hand..

"O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and our Queen, graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom the glory promised to your children.
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 on the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary).

The Church celebrates today the feast of Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth.

Jesus in His public ministry talked about the Kingdom of God more than any other subject. Indeed, in the great prayer, Our Father, Jesus inserted "Thy Kingdom Come!" A reminder that the key desire of His heart should be ours too.

Why did Jesus crown His Mother Queen?  Jesus is the King of the Universe. Where there is a king, there is a kingdom. Where there is a kingdom, there are subjects, laws and needs. Jesus is not just a King but also our able High Priest, who intercedes for us constantly before the throne of His Father. Mary is Queen to intercede before His Son Jesus and to give us confidence to approach the throne of grace and mercy.  In fact, the saints in Heaven enjoy all the promised blessings of Paradise while at the same time interceding for their loved ones on earth.  This does not diminish the status of Jesus Christ as our great High Priest. Jesus is not jealous of our role as intercessors. It is His gracious Will.

Mary, Mother and Queen pray for us.

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You will receive a hundred times more.

"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."  (Matthew 19: 29).

What have you given up for Jesus?
What price have you paid for discipleship? What daily sacrifices do you make as a follower of Jesus?

The promise made by Jesus in Matthew 19: 29 is exciting.  What is your response?

People who are generous in responding to the invitation of Jesus experience true peace and security, joy and fulfillment.  They begin to relish the delights of eternal right here and right now.

"Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich."  (2 Corinthians 8: 9).

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Impossible to love God and mammon.

"When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions."  (Matthew 19: 22).

What did the rich young man heard that caused him such emotional turmoil?

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  (Matthew 19: 21).

Being rich and having many possessions is not bad.  What is rebuked here is having attachment to anything.  It is a sin against the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me."  (Exodus 20: 3). Any unhealthy love for any creature is considered idolatry.

What are you attached to?
Money, possessions, comfort, dog?
"For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."  (Matthew 6: 21).

Jesus also warned us:  "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."  (John 6: 27).

What shall you do to be free of attachment to creatures?  Ask Abba Father to prune you gently.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit."  (John 15: 1 - 2).

Blessed are they who are pruned of their attachments, they shall yield abundant fruits for the Kingdom of God. O God, You made us for Yourself, may our heart be restless until it rests in You.  Amen.

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My flesh is true food.

"Jesus said to the crowds:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”  (John 6: 51).

Once again we savor the Bread of life Discourse.  This teaching is so important for the life of the Christian and the Church that Mother Church is never tired of serving this menu again and again.

"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him."  (John 6: 55 - 56).

Those who come to the Table of the Lord must leave their lofty learning behind. This Food is for the simple of heart, the childlike, the lowly.

“Let whoever is simple turn in here;
to the one who lacks understanding, she says,
Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.” (Proverbs 9: 4 - 6).

What is your response to Jesus? Come to the Table and "taste and see the goodness of the Lord."  (Psalm 34: 9).

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Jesus who did not sin died for the sins of the world.

"Only the one who sins shall die!"  (Ezekiel 18: 4).
The word of the Lord.

"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."  (Genesis 3: 3).

In today's first Reading, the Prophet Ezekiel corrects the mistaken notion of the People of God on sin and responsibility.  The people believed that they suffer for the sins of their fathers and mothers.  O no, says the Lord God.  "Only the one who sins shall die!"  (Ezekiel 18: 4).

The wages of sin continue to be death. (Romans 6: 23).  But God has no pleasure in the death of anyone.  He wants everyone of His children to be converted to Him and live!  (Ezekiel 18: 32).

"A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me."  (Psalm 51: 12 - 13).

"Holy Father and Lord, You willed that Christ Your Son should be the price of our salvation. Give us grace so to live that through sharing his sufferings we may be strengthened by the power of his resurrection..." (Prayer at Vespers, Friday, 19th Week of Ordinary Time).

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Is divorce permitted?

“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”  (Matthew 19: 3).

Is divorce permitted? The Pharisees asked Jesus.  Jesus used this question to teach us God's original plan for marriage between one man and one woman.  God joined man and woman together to become one for life.
If this is so, what is the reason for the prevalent heart-wrenching divorces? Hardness of heart or sin is the cause, Jesus answered.  This is how the Church explains the progression of the hardness of heart:

"The harmony in which they had found themselves, thanks to original justice, is now destroyed: the control of the soul's spiritual faculties over the body is shattered; the union of man and woman becomes subject to tensions, their relations henceforth marked by lust and domination. Harmony with creation is broken: visible creation has become alien and hostile to man. Because of man, creation is now subject "to its bondage to decay".Finally, the consequence explicitly foretold for this disobedience will come true: man will "return to the ground", for out of it he was taken. Death makes its entrance into human history."  (CCC 400).

What sin has torn asunder, Jesus Christ has reconciled in His body by giving man and woman the means and tools to live in harmony.  The Church accompanies the married couples on their journey of faith with the Sacraments: Matrimony, Eucharist, Reconciliation. The Church provides a number of effective tools as aid to harmony: marriage preparation classes, counseling, Cursillo, Encounters, etc.

Like any vocation, it is impossible for marriage to work outside the framework of sacraments, tools and resources provided by the Providence of God for the institution today.

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I forgave you your entire debt because you begged Me.

"The servant fell down, did him  homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’  Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan."  (Matthew 18: 26 - 27).

The above verses are from the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6: 12).

Forgiveness or Mercy is at heart of the Gospel.  Not only did Jesus teach this message every opportunity but He demonstrated it practically from the Cross.  He forgave the Good Thief.  And while still experiencing the terrible agony of the Cross, He forgave everyone who played a part to place Him on the Cross including yourself and me.

Some people think that to forgive a grievous offense is so hard. Perhaps it is.  Can you try this prayer every morning?
"Father, forgive all my sins.  I forgive completely everyone who has ever offended me.  I pray you grant the grace to all those I have ever offended to forgive me and release me from their anger. I ask for this in the Name of Your Son Jesus who commands us to forgive."

"You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to."  (Matthew 18: 32).

Remember the ABC of Mercy:
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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Rejoice O Most Blessed Virgin Mary!

"The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name."  (Luke 1: 49).

The Mighty God has truly done great things for Mary.  The Church throughout the world rejoices today as she celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Let us consider four of the stupendous things the Mighty God has done for Mary:

#1 The Immaculate Conception:  Mary, chosen before the foundation of the world to be the Mother of Jesus was preserved from the curse of Original Sin. She was born without the taint of sin.
#2 The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel brought the message of salvation to Mary. Mary said YES!
#3  The Assumption:  At the end of her earthly life, Mary is taken up to heaven as chorus of angels exulted.
#4  Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth.

Mary was declared by the Archangel Gabriel, messenger of God to be "full of grace." (Luke 1: 28).  Mary in the Magnificat prophesied "Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed." (Luke 1: 48).  Billions of Hail Marys are said every day proclaiming Mary blessed.

On the occasion of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, let the Church rejoice with all the angels and saints in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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Who is a little child?

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18: 3).

We have noted the magnificent obsession of Jesus for the wonderful place and state He calls the Kingdom of God.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2: 9).

Throughout His public ministry, Jesus laid out the qualifying principles for entrance into this Kingdom.  We shall look at one today:  A childlike attitude.  What is this?

+ Innocence (sinlessness)
+ Simple
+ Humble
+ Trusting
+  Forgiving
+  Living here and now

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”  (John 3: 4).

"Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."  (John 3: 5).

Here is the secret! The Holy Spirit must affect the transformation.  If this transformation is not completed during your allotted life span, it will be finished in Purgatory, the Church teaches.

"It is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18: 14).

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