August 15, 2012 – Luke 11:27-28 – True Blessedness

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breast that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who heard the word of God and obey it!”

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Assumption into Heaven. In his homily, Father Michael Coutts said that as the Olympics and advertisements are over, the athletes with their moms and dads deserve victory. We join their victory as we celebrate and share the glory of Mary’s earthly cause to be the Mother of God. In the first reading of Chronicles, it mentioned about sacred space. The Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Christians, Catholics and other sects have sacred space, the church, which is a place of great reverence and sign of hope. Virgin Mary has  sacred space with different names like gates of heaven, ark of the covenant, tower of David, tower of ivory, and house of gold. God chose a woman, Blessed Mary, for her obedience. She declared herself as the handmaid of the Lord. As the beloved Mother of Jesus, she heard the word of God and kept it. So let us pray to her: “Mary conceived without sin, Mary assumed into heaven, pray for us.”

August 14, 2012 – Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 – True Greatness / The Parable of the Lost Sheep

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Take care that you do not despite one of these little ones; for I tell you in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Father John Bertao mentioned about the saying “Twice in our lives we are children.” Like children, parents do not care about impressing on anyone when they reached retirement. When they become grandparents, they are the most forgiving persons who like to spoil their grandchildren. Jesus presents child as a model of sanctity. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven are the children and those that are childlike. They want attention and do not want to impress on anybody. They also value family ties. The ones who welcome God’s children welcomes Himself.

Today, we remember Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, priest, who was declared a martyr of  charity. He is the patron saint of political prisoners as he gave his life in prison.

August 13, 2012 – Matthew 17:24-27 – Jesus and the Temple Tax

When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others? When Peter said, “From others.” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the lake and cast a hook, take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.”

 

The gospel theme is about Jesus who was facing persecution from the tax collectors. Jesus and Peter did not have money to pay the tax. So Jesus  reminded Peter that God cared for them and rescued them. Father Gilles Mongeau explained in his homily that we should trust in God and ask for his help in times of need, as the saying goes “God provides.” There is a double teaching on the gospel – to receive God’s love and imitate Christ by being compassionate and humble with others.

August 11, 2012 – Matthew 17:14-20 - Jesus cures a boy with a Demon

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often in the water… And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible  for you.

Father Carmelo Borg relayed that the gospel message is about the “complaints department” of Jesus. As written on the bible, if you have faith the size of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move. Thru faith, we can do impossibility. Jesus focuses on our faith not so much on why are we being healed but He just wants to heal. We must live by faith and expect God’s power of faith. Faith is an assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. The assurance is a result of deep relationship with Jesus. Faith is not just reading the bible. Like a piece of cake, you must taste it. Thus, we must taste and see the goodness of the Lord. We should try to be close at him, listen to what he says, and be in love with God. Let us believe in Him and pray for our lack of faith.

August 10, 2012 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 – The Collection for Christians at Jerusalem

The point is this: The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

St. Lawrence

Father John’s Bertao’s reflection on the reading is about patience. Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, a deacon and martyr who exercised great patience until the hour of his death. He practiced patience to forgive to those who offended him, be it words and actions. Let us pray for St. Lawrence to give us patience and give thanks to God.

August 9, 2012 – Matthew 16:15-23 – Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

St. Peter

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build, my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound on heaven, and whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

August 8, 2012 – Jeremiah 31:1-7 – The Joyful Return of the Exiles

Thus says the Lord,  The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you…..For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.”

Father Michael Coutts said that the first reading of Jeremiah is about great hope and optimism. It focused on people close to God who worked hard and tend to be overlooked. Jesus’ message is ‘I will love you with everlasting love.” He is the God of mercy and compassion. 

St. Dominic

Today is the feast of St. Dominic of Spain who lived during the time of slavery in 1170.  He has great love for his faith. He founded  the Order of Preachers  or the convent of Dominicans. Their motto is to strengthen the faith and to fight the heresy -  "our body is a source of evil and sin". He also shared his gift of rosary with his devotion to Mary. Let us pray to St. Dominic to continue his morality and his faith.

August 7, 2012 - Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 / Matthew 14: 22-36

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 – Restoration Promised for Israel and Judah

For thus says the Lord: Your hurt is incurable, your wound is grievous. There is no one to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are so numerous. Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are so numerous, I have done these things to you.

Matthew 14: 22-36 – Jesus Walks on the Water

Peter answered him, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he notices the strong wind, he became frightened and begging to sink, she cried out, “Lord save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand, and caught him saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying ‘Truly you are the Son of God.”

Father John Bertao mentioned in his reflection that there are days when we are edgy so we travel in our mind to find a place of peace and tranquility where there is no feeling of fear. In the readings of Jeremiah, we find that the old world was living on the edge of disaster and distress. However, we find Jesus saving Peter despite his frailty in the gospel of Matthew, which gives us hope. Beyond disasters and storms we encounter in our lives, we shall be at peace one day in God’s kingdom. Turbulence inside of us can cause us to fear and fall into sin. Let us continue to find peace and tranquility in the Eucharist in order to receive nourishment from God.