notice of God

(Image is portrait of JEsus found in the Catacombs of St. Callistus)

Romans 4:1-8; Ps 32 I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble; Luke 12:1-7

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Callistus. He was born to a Christian slave in the 3rd century. Later in his life he was put in charge of a bank that eventually went broke. THus, he was on the run, until he was caught and sent to the mill (prison). He was ransomed and later ordained a deacon and put in charge of the Christian Cemetery that today still bears his name: Catacombs of St. Callistus just outside of Rome along the Appian Way. He became Pope Callistus in 217 and was martyred 223.

As I recall to mind St. Callistus, I cannot but think about my trip to the catacombs of Callistus several years ago. I had the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist in the catacombs, surrounded by the tombs of Popes and martyrs and many of the remains of the early Christians.

It was very moving.

The profound aspect of the catacombs was the silence. It was an "uproar" of silence. As I journeyed through the catacombs, everywhere I looked I encountered frescoes or mosaics, or sculptures of hope and faith and love.

The silence resonated confidence.

The Good Shepherd clinging to the lamb is all over the walls and tombs. Also depicted are images of JEsus at work: raising Lazarus from the dead, making the blind to see, multiplying the loaves and fishes, changing the water in to wine.

IT is as if the martyrs are telling the visitors that JEsus continues to be active and that his work lives on in the life of faith and even in the death of those who die in faith.

There are no crosses in the catacombs but rather there are anchors which are symbols of hope. The Good Shepherd and the anchor stand out as the source of hope and confidence that resonate from the tombs of the catacombs.

We are always in his grip. This is the message of the catacombs that comes to the visitor in silence.

The voice of the martyrs continues to sing the praises of God in Christ.

The early greeks called the place of the dead a necropolis, which means city of the dead, but the Christians adopted a new name for the cemetery, they called them dormitories, a place of rest.

They knew death was not the end.

The catacombs put flesh on the gospel for today. JEsus tells us "there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known...Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. YOu are worth more than many sparrows."

Believe it, profess it, live it.

The catacombs present to every visitor true transparency. Transparency of faith only leads to confidence and trust. The martyrs have nothing to hide, and we should follow their lead.

We do not escape the notice of God.

Here are some links to the Catacombs online.

The first link is a Litany to the martyrs of the Catacombs: pray them today as an act of faith.

click here for litany

Here is a link to a virtual tour of the Catacombs

Virtual tour click here

Here is general information on the Catacomb themselves

Click here

No distinctions

Romans 3:21-30; Ps 130 With the Lord there is mercy; Luke 11:47-54

Here are the words of St. Paul from the letter of Romans this morning

"There is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus. whom God sent forth as expiation, through faith by his Blood...What occasion is there then for boasting?"

There is a sobering thought. The cross is the great equalizer. Why do we boast?

Go back to the first part of that statement by St. Paul. "There is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the Glory of God."

Now "distinction" is different than "exception". Obviously there are exceptions looking at all humans though there are no distinctions between gentiles and jews. JEsus Christ is an exception. He was fully human and was sinless. The church teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was is also sinless, by the words of the greeting of the angel Gabriel, "HAil, full of grace the Lord is with you." Though Mary's sinlessness is still prescribed as a result of Christ and his redemption.

A lot to think about.

But remember we can be saved in many ways. IF we are walking and fall into a hole, then someone who rescues us by pulling us from the hole saves us. Or we can be walking and headed toward a hole and then someone comes along and guides us around the hole, we are still saved though we do not suffer the effects of the fall.

The former is our experience. THe latter is Mary's. Both cases we are saved by grace that comes from Christ.

The argument St. Paul is presenting is the argument that Jews and Gentiles alike are all the same in Christ. None are better than the other for it is by the Blood of Christ that we are justified in faith.

To be justified means to be vindicated or to arrive at an acquittal.

When does this acquittal happen? Where according to Paul, by Baptism 1 Corinthians 6:11. In the waters of Baptism, the sinner is acquitted and the sinner is adopted as a child of God himself in Christ. thus an heir of eternal life. Thus an inward transformation occurs, an indelible mark as the church teaches.

St. Paul goes on to say, "a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

Works of the law are different than good works.

For later, St. Paul will say that faith manifest itself in lives of believers by obedience (Rom 1.5), love (Gal 5:6), good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Works of the law refer to the Mosaic Covenant and the many prescribed precepts added on by the scribes and Pharisees through the ages.

Good works are those things that come because of faith, such as we encounter in Galatians chapter 5, the fruits of the Spirit.

Just something to think about on this Thursday morning.

Turn your attention to the gospel.

The Pharisees and the scribes began to act with hostility toward Jesus.
Jesus speaks the truth and calls them to the mat. They do not like it and they react violently toward it.

This is a good thing to remember. If they persecuted him, they shall persecute us who also call people to the mat by speaking and living the truth. Jesus made them feel uncomfortable.

So be it.

A Poem: sometimes

sometimes things don't go, after all
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all is well.

A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen; may it happen for you.

conscious discipline

Romans 2:1-11;Ps 62 Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works; Luke 11:42-46


A few words from Pope Benedict as he spoke to the southeast region of Italy, Calabria, though he spoke to them he always speaks to all:

"never give in to the temptation to pessimism or to withdraw within yourselves. Draw from the resources of your faith and your human capacities; make an effort to grow in the capacity to collaborate, to look after your neighbor and the whole of the public good, guarding the wedding garment of love; persevere in giving witness to human and Christian values ..."


Words from St. Paul, more like an exhortation, "YOu, O man are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge do the very same things...?

Here St. Paul is not speaking about being critical but rather about passing judgment in the sense of condemning. This is a problem.

What is our standard? We must examine our measuring stick and make sure it measures at the same breadth and height and width of the Cross of Christ.

None of us have the authority to condemn anyone, though we must help them to arrive at a better place. It is easy to write people off. It is easy to want to get rid them, out of sight and out of mind. It is a lot harder and takes a greater love to encourage them continually and seek again to move them to a better place so that they collaborate with God's grace of transformation.

Paul continues, "the just judgment of God will repay everyone according to his works, eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness..."

St. Paul mentions that God will repay. What we shall receive depends in a large portion on us. I remember being at St. Rose last year and all the teachers were working on implementing conscious discipline, where the teachers teach the children accountability and consequences based on their choices, helping them to see the positive choice to every situation.

It seemed to be an affective tool. St. Paul is using conscious discipline in the letter to the Romans. He is inviting us to look at the consequences of our choices while trying to reenforce good behavior. We have a choice, we can either be with GOd for eternity or not.

You decide.

hooptedoodle

Romans 1:16-25; Psalm 19 The heavens proclaim the glory of God; Luke 11:37-41

What is hooptedoodle?

Inflammation of a story caused by infectious or toxic writing that gets in the way of the story's making progress. It is wordy, unnecessary, space-taking, and typically should be edited out.


We have all read articles or novels or other books where we thought to ourself that what this story really needed was an editor. How often are too many words used? How often does words just seem filler and it hinders the story and we readers wind up just skipping those parts anyway.

What a waste! What a waste of a beautifully laid out page. What a waste of our time!

I wonder how often the story of our lives as we live them is filled with hooptedoodle? There are many things we do that really get in the way of the story's making progress.

How often too much of our life is spent on too little of importance!

Perhaps this is what Jesus was getting at in the gospel for today.

Here is a tidbit of the gospel.

"Jesus entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. YOu fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you"

In other words, eliminate the hooptedoodle and behold clarity shall be yours.

Give alms: simply put give mercy, give your life, make your life a benefit for others; be a benefactor for those around you.

Thus, eliminate the hooptedoodle.

Words from Blessed Pope John XXIII whose feast is today

"We must open our hearts and empty them of the malice with which at times the spirit of error and evil seeks to infect them, and thus purified, we must lift them up confident of receiving heaven's blessing as also prosperity in the things of this earth."

Blessed John XXIII on the Precious Blood: Click here for the Litany of the Precious Blood

"The Blood of the new and eternal covenant especially deserves this worship of latria when it is elevated during the sacrifice of the Mass. But such worship achieves its normal fulfilment in sacramental communion with the same Blood, indissolubly united with Christ's eucharistic Body. In intimate association with the celebrant the faithful can then truly make his sentiments at communion their own: "I will take the chalice of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. . . The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul for everlasting life. Amen." Thus as often as they come worthily to this holy table they will receive more abundant fruits of the redemption and resurrection and eternal life won for all men by the Blood Christ shed "through the Holy Spirit."13 Nourished by his Body and Blood, sharing the divine strength that has sustained count less martyrs, they will stand up to the slings and arrows of each day's fortunes — even if need be to martyrdom itself for the sake of Christian virtue and the kingdom of God. Theirs will be the experience of that burning love which made St. John Chrysostom cry out:

Let us, then, come back from that table like lions breathing out fire, thus becoming terrifying to the Devil, and remaining mindful of our Head and of the love he has shown for us. . . This Blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. . . This Blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. . . This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church... This thought will check in us unruly passions. How long, in truth, shall we be attached to present things? How long shall we remain asleep? How long shall we not take thought for our own salvation? Let us remember what privileges God has bestowed on us, let us give thanks, let us glorify him, not only by faith, but also by our very works. 14

the secret of life

Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23 I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; Philipians 4:12-14;19-20; Mt 22:1-14

First a brief overview of the gospel. Over the past three weeks, we have been listening to Jesus tell parables. Each of the parable offer a unique perspective on life in the kingdom. In fact, parables taken collective offer us a glimpse at the cut and contour of kingdom living.

This is important.

This weeks parable does the same.
The parable is about a King whose son is getting married. He invites the guest and they refuse to come. He sends out another reminder and not only do they refuse to come but they treat the servants badly, even killing them.

Now of course hearing this we know this is not going to turn out well for them who refuse.

the act of refusal is an act of rebellion. The refusal to attend the marriage feast of the King's son, is in some sense a refusal to accept the son as heir, as future king. The refusal to come is act against loyalty to the throne. Certainly, no king would stand for this.

The first sent of people are the scribes and pharisees and religious elite of JEsus time. They refused the invitation the King sends. Jesus of course is the one who is getting married, the bridegroom.

After the rebellion is put down then their goes out an open invitation to anyone and everyone. The servants rounded up the good and the bad alike. The good, the bad and the ugly get the chance of a life time. The invitation is undeserved and free.

They all jump at the opportunity. Of course folks the good the bad and the ugly are You and I.

The king, now excited and satisfied that the banquet is filled and the feast is being celebrated as it should be, arrives and mingles with the guest.

HE finds one who does not have a wedding garment. Now it appears that in the time of Jesus, if someone were to show up at a wedding feast without the proper attire then one would be provided. It is like going to a restaurant that requires a coat and tie. If you show up and don't have one then usually they have some set a side that can be used.

IT seems this particular guest though having been offered a garment refused.

Perhaps he thought that it didn't matter what he wore.

I hear this quite a bit from folks. They will say it doesn't matter what I look like God will accept me as I am.

OR they will say God doesn't care how I dress.

Well, Usually I tell then it is inadequate to say God doesn't care.  God cares absolutely and eternally. The issue isn't whether God cares, the issue is whether we care.

Just because the invitation is free and undeserved doesn't mean God lowers his standards.  Even God has standards.

The invitation is meant to give us courage to rise and meet the standard set before us. The standard of Course is Christ. We have all been baptized in Christ. We received a white garment at baptism with these words, "you have been clothed with Christ."

God provides the garments for us and how often we refuse.

God cares. Do we?
*************************


Now this past week we witnessed the passing of Steve Jobs. He is the mastermind and architect behind Macintosh. HE made the apple a universal symbol of communication. He changed the way we communicate and exchange information. He gave us the iPhone, iPad, iPod and itunes.

He died at the age of 56 after a 7 year battle with cancer.

A few years ago he was speak about this experience at a commencement speech at a graduating class.

He spoke about his experience after the doctors gave him the news of cancer and in fact told him he was going to die soon.

He said after that day, every morning he woke up he would go into the bathroom and look at himself in the mirror and ask himself the same question, "If today was going to be my last day alive, would I still do what I was planning on doing today."

Every day he would ask himself the same question.

He said if he answered "No" consecutive days in a row then he knew something had to change.

He said, remembering that he was going to die soon was the best tool he ever encountered. In the face of death, all external expectation, all pride, all fear of failure faded away.

It was remembering he was dying that freed him from falling into the trap of thinking he had something to lose.  Before the face of death, he said, we all stand naked.

In the face of death, we all stand naked. Think about that for a moment.

IT is true.  Death is the great equalizer.  None of us get out of here a live.  In the face of death we all stand naked.

Now think about today's psalm. Psalm 23 is important.

We all know PSalm 23 or at least we should. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I should want. In green pastures he gives me repose, beside restful waters he leads me and refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name sake. Even though I walk in the valley of death, i fear no evil; for yo are at m side with your rod and staff that give me courage...."

It is beautiful psalm. It is the first scripture I ever put to memory. My CCD teacher asked us to memorize some scripture. I opened the bible and I found Psalm 23. It moved me. SO i put to memory.

It has stuck with me ever since.

In fact, every time I go to anoint someone who got bad news about their health or If I go to give some one the last rights in preparation for dying, I always start with Psalm 23. I want that to be on the persons mind and heart as they head down the next journey.

Think about Psalm 23 again. Hear the words, "He guides me in right paths for his namesake. THough I walk in the valley of death, I fear no evil, you are at my side with your rod and staff that give me courage."

There it is. The nearness of God transforms reality as we know it. The fact the Good shepherd leads us even the valley of death, the valley of death loses its danger, it is emptied of its threat.

It is true that in the face of death we stand naked, but in faith we never stand alone, the Good Shepherd is always at our side.


There is the beauty and truth of a life of faith. We never go alone. No matter the circumstances, no matter the road we travel. If we do it in sincere faith then on roads shall become that pathway that leads us to green pastures of repose.

No matter the road, if we walk in Christ then we shall arrive where we have always wanted to be: to dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life.

We do not go alone. Naked yes, alone never.

This is what St. PAul speaks about in the second reading when he says, "I have learned the secret of life."

The secret of life. How many of us look for the secret of life, the secret of happiness. How many of us want the inside scoop on such things. ANd here St. Paul spells it our for us.

"I have learned the secret of life, of being well fed or going hungry, of living in abundance or being in need. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me."

There it is  the secret of life. No matter the circumstance, In faith we do not go alone. We have one who has already gone before us. We have one who has experiences all the things we experience. We have one who has already gone down the road of death and has conquered.

The secret of life: we do not go alone.

We know this. We believe this. We profess this. It is time to live it.

Naked perhaps, alone never.

Our Lady of the rosary fight with us and for us

Joel 1:13-15;2:1-2; Psalm 9 The Lord will judge the world with Justice; Luke 11:15-26

Today we celebrate Our Lady of Victory, Our lady of the Rosary. ON this date, October 7th, 1570, date the Turkish fleet was defeated by a much smaller and over matched Christian fleet. This battle was pivotal for it assured the Christian faith the freedom to be practiced in Europe.

The Battle of Lepanto was a navy battle between the Turks and Christian fleet consisting mainly of spain and venice. Pope Pius V, asked all of Europe to pray the Rosary that MAry might intercede and guide the Christian fleet.

Basically the battle was between the ISlamic fleet and the Christian fleet, but many who are politically correct will avoid that distinction so as to not stir things up.

The fact remains, it was by prayer that the those fighting the battle were aided in their victory. Mary our Mother interceded for us all as she did at the annunciation when God asked her to be the mother of Jesus.

Think about the Rosary!

In reciting the Rosary, we enter into the meaningful events of salvation history. The rosary is the compendium to the gospel. The rosary is like a 3D movie, where we can touch the life of Christ as we meditate and pray the beads.

The Annunciation of Christ when the angel comes to MAry, the birth of Christ, JEsus born into the world, the suffering Christ be it the agony in the garden or the crown of thorns, the public ministry of Christ form the wedding feast of Cana to the institution of the Eucharist, and the glorious mysteries of the EMpty TOmb and descent of the Holy Spirit, flood our mind with the recitation of the Rosary and with MAry;s guiding hand.

As Blessed John Paul II stated in his apostolic letter on the Rosary, with Mary's guiding hand while praying the rosary, we Learn Christ, we are conformed to Christ, we remember Christ, we pray to Christ, we proclaim CHrist.

At the very heart of the prayer is the repetition of the name of JEsus, "blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus" he whose name is salvation for all.

What more can you ask from a prayer?



Paul the VI on the Rosary, "As a Gospel prayer, centred on the mystery of the redemptive Incarnation, the Rosary is a prayer with a clearly Christological orientation. Its most characteristic element, in fact, the litany- like succession of Hail Marys, becomes in itself an unceasing praise of Christ, who is the ultimate object both of the Angel's announcement and of the greeting of the Mother of John the Baptist: 'Blessed is the fruit of your womb'.



Here is the apostolic letter on the Rosary

persistence

Malachai 3:13-20; Ps 1 Blessed are they who hope in the lord; Luke 11:5-13

Jesus tells the story of a friend who shows up on your door late at night knocking and seeking bread.
The story's focus is not on the one who gives or why he gives but on the one who ask.

The punch line is as follows, "I tell you, if he does not get up to give him loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence."

Firmness of purpose, the unwillingness to give in or give up will gain you a lot of ground in the end.

Turn your attention to the psalm. today we read from psalm 1. Psalm one begins the book of psalms which consist of 150 psalms. The book is a mirror of the spiritual life.

It begins with two kinds of people: those who fear the Lord and are obedient and those who fear not and who are classified as the wicked.

"Blessed the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade."



Blessed is the man that is persistent.

The thing about the psalms. If you follow them through you come to psalm 150, which is a psalm of pure praise.

Persistence in obedience and fear of the Lord leads to perfect praise.

This is the spiritual life: firmness of purpose and the willingness not to give in will gain you ground in the end.

In the words of Franklin Roosevelt, "When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."


Example: Abraham Lincoln
if you want to learn about somebody who did not quit, look no further. Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost 8 elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times - but he didn't and because he didn't quit, he became one of the greatest Presidents in the history of US. Lincoln was a champion and he never gave up. Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road to the White House: 1816 : His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them. 1818 : His mother died. 1831 : Failed in business. 1832 : Ran for state legislature - Lost. 1832 : Also lost his job. Wanted to go to law school, but couldn't get in. 1833 : Borrowed some money from a friend to begin business, but became bankrupt by the year end. 1834 : Ran for state legislature again - Won. 1835 : Was engaged to be married, but his fiancée died. 1836 : Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for 6 months. 1838 : Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - Defeated. 1840 : Sought to be elector - Defeated. 1843 : Ran for Congress - Lost. 1846 : Ran for Congress again. This time he won. Went to Washington and did a good job. 1848 : Ran for re-election to Congress - Lost. 1849 : Sought the job of land officer in his home state - Rejected. 1854 : Ran for the Senate of the US - Lost. 1856 : Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party's national convention - Got less than 100 votes. 1858 : Ran for the US Senate again - Lost again. 1860 : Elected President of the US.

In the end, persistence is a divine attribute. Think of how persistent God has been to get our attention. Think about the countless stubborn hearts and wills he has endured from the moment he spoke those words, "let there be light" to the Pentecost experience of sending his Holy Spirit. Right smack in the middle is the Cross.

Persistence means to be godly.