On being reminded of the gift of faith

As we each go through life, most of us will experience the sadness and discouragement, the sense of failure or unworthiness that comes from "not being chosen." The school yard is a wonderful place for learning that no one is good at everything and "you" are not as "good" as everyone else at something. Sometimes you will be too fat, too tall, too skinny, too slow, too smart, too female, too short, too Catholic... Being the last to be called by the team captain, and then only by default, is never a nice feeling.

Today I am reminded of the unique, precious and incomparable gift of God's calling to each of His children. No two will be called in the same way, or have the same journey. The light of faith is an amazing grace bestowed upon His chosen. A gift so beautiful. A gift so rare, that for some, it will shine from their whole person as it fills their soul so entirely that it cannot contain the light. And yet, a gift so abundant that many will not even stop to unwrap it. Perhaps they are so busy being "chosen" for lesser things; lesser gods... that they fail to hear the calling of their name by the Captain of Faith, Hope and Love, Jesus Christ himself.

This is the one faith of God's chosen people. We, who through Christian baptism and thereby, unbroken lineage to Jesus' Apostles and beyond, participate in Abraham's progeny. Together with the Israelites, we have heard the Word of God from fire; seen the Living God and we have lived. We are members of that great nation God has chosen for Himself out of all the nations of the earth. He has revealed Himself to us "by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by terrifying displays of power." (Dt 4:34)

This faith in God; in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. The living Word of the Living God is the most powerful gift. Let it shine forth for all nations to see. If you hide it. If you cover the light and fall into darkness, you may lose your way and stumble. Beware those who find you in darkness. Many sheep are actually wolves in disguise. Remain in the light. Keep your faith alive "so that you may long remain in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time." (Dt 4:39–40)

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me this superabundant light of faith. May I nurture it and share it wisely and freely.

I pray today that all your brothers and sisters; the Father's children through your Cross and Resurrection, who have accepted the gift of faith, may remain in you and share that same faith with the world. May we be a lamp, which is you o Lord, unto the footsteps of our fellows.

I also pray that you will continue to strengthen and guide Father Hyacinth on this day especially; the 5th anniversary of his Holy Priesthood. But for his most precious gift, I might never have had the courage to again write here for your glory.

Thank you for this day and all you have given your friends.

AMEN  

 

July 29- Feast of Saint Martha

and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” 

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Jn 11:19–27). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

In this short Gospel from today's feast for Saint Martha, verse 21-22 strike a chord for me. Here we hear Martha being quite strong and almost rebuking Jesus for not being present earlier in order to prevent her brother's death. The manner highlights for me the bond or trust, friendship and love that exists between the two. Is our friendship with Jesus on the level that we can be utterly open and emotional? Like you would be with your "best friend forever." This is immediately followed by a profound and unshakable statement of faith in Jesus and His communion with the Father. Martha has not one iota of doubt in both the resurrection of the body at the end of time and Jesus ability to return Lazarus to his earthly life. He has but to ask the Father and it will be done.

It is important and interesting to note, later in the chapter and throughout the Gospels, Jesus gives thanks to Our Father in heaven before making petitions. How often do we find ourselves in need of God's help and remember to ask it? How does this compare with our offering of thanks when we are in need of nothing because God has already preempted and provided for us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing Saint Martha to show us it is both possible and necessary for us to allow you to be our "best friend forever". In Saint Martha's faith and friendship we find hope and love abounding. Grace us with the Holy Spirit in this life that we may know you as friend and brother. Bring us to everlasting life with you and Our Father in heaven. Amen

July 26 Feast of Sts Anne and Joachim

Today... a profound reminder that God's plans are both genius beyond our comprehension and so slow in playing out that we often do not even detect their presence.
How easy it is to over look the obvious... the mother of our Lord was a child herself. Formed by God with the loving help of her parents Anne and Joachim, Mary grew in the love of the Lord. From the time of the fall, He planned for her birth and the day she would say "yes" to cooperating in the redemption of mankind.

Dear Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, thank you for being perfect parents to our perfect mother. Your loving guidance and formation of your blessed daughter changed the world and the hope for all mankind.
Pray for us in these troubled times. May we remain steadfast in our faith and love for your grandson our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

July 25 Feast of the Apostle James

I have begun training for the Camino de Santiago... I am walking to the kitchen.
In the mean time... I shall enjoy vicariously through a viewing of 'The Way".
Happy feast day to James' everywhere.

PM Kevin Rudd. Hypocrite and schismatic.... clearly still needs our prayers.

The current Prime Minister of Aust... sorry hang on, let me check... no, no change today... The current Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd was not making an apologies for being a "Christian" back in 2003...

"I make no apology for the fact that I am a Christian. I came to faith 25 years ago and it was a mature, considered, adult decision,"

Mr Rudd, who is an Anglican, said that Jesus didn't separate private religion and public action. "He told us to feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless and so on. He put no division between the spiritual and the professional. All Christians have a common concern for the poor and for injustice wherever it is found but only a government is powerful enough to deal with large-scale issues such as slavery, child labour, providing universal education and public hospitals."


The longer I am in Canberra the more I am persuaded that we need your prayers for wisdom - a wisdom far beyond our own. We need your prayers for vision for without a vision the people perish. And we need your prayers for courage.

"But Jesus was not about spin. He was about truth however discomforting it may be politically. Pray that we might be the way, the truth and the life in the national political life of Australia,"




Let's look at some of the facts surrounding this two timing two timer who claims to be a Christian.

One: Mister Rudd is a schismatic who left Holy Roman Catholic Church for the Anglican Episcopate... for matters, I strongly suspect, of convenience rather than faith. (His wife is Anglican, and wears the trousers.)

Two: Mister Rudd is an opportunist. The depth to which he will sink include photographic opportunities with the Pope and using the (then) pending canonisation of Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross for political gain.This included the deliberate sacrilege of consuming the Eucharistic Host at Roman Catholic Mass despite clear advice from his own church that 
it would be inappropriate to do so.


Three: The same Kevin Rudd... "regular church goer" (well, whenever a camera is around at least)... who said, "Jesus was not about spin. He was about truth however discomforting it may be politically." Has declared his belief that  "secular Australian state should be able to recognise same sex marriage." Apparently that great theologian, his daughter(!!) convinced him of this change in stance from his previously stated position. 

Four:     Mister Rudd is seeking to further extend Australia's already appalling maltreatment of refugees and other seekers of asylum by sending all boat arrivals to another country. A far cry from "Jesus didn't separate private religion and public action. He told us to feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless and so on. He put no division between the spiritual and the professional. All Christians have a common concern for the poor and for injustice wherever it is found but only a government is powerful enough to deal with large-scale issues such as slavery, child labour..."

   

What Mister Rudd really like to do with refugees and asylum seekers.

What's more... Mister Rudd's ancestors arrived in Australia on a boat as convicts!

Thomas Rudd, his paternal 4th great-grandfather, was transported to Australia in 1881 to serve a seven-year sentence for stealing a bag of sugar. He married fellow convict Mary Cable, who had stolen a bolt of cloth, before his sentence was complete. Another ancestor stole 200 pounds of glue and a great-grandmother was convicted in 1798 of forging coins. Another ancestor, Mary Wade, was a grand Australian matriarch who began life begging for food as an urchin on the streets of London.

Gee... thieving and forging? A chip off the old block is our Kevin.

He sure does like to have his cake and eat it too.

Does the man have any integrity?

A little bit? 

Even a teeny weeny bit?

Hmm... apparently not.

Indeed, for any orthodox Christian, Jew or Muslim, it is difficult to find anything to like, admire or vote for with Mister Rudd. Ironic really. The longer Mister Rudd is in Canberra, the more I am persuaded that the country does not have a prayer.

Mister Rudd... I do believe your time is up.

Same to you sir.

July 22 Memorial for St Mary Magdalene

From a homily on the Gospels by Gregory the Great, pope
She longed for Christ, though she thought he had been taken away

When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: The disciples went back home, and it adds: but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.

We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tells us: Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.

At first she sought but did not find, but when she persevered it happened that she found what she was looking for. When our desires are not satisfied, they grow stronger, and becoming stronger they take hold of their object. Holy desires likewise grow with anticipation, and if they do not grow they are not really desires. Anyone who succeeds in attaining the truth has burned with such a great love. As David says: My soul has thirsted for the living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? And so also in the Song of Songs the Church says: I was wounded by love; and again: My soul is melted with love.

Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? She is asked why she is sorrowing so that her desire might be strengthened; for when she mentions whom she is seeking, her love is kindled all the more ardently.

Jesus says to her: Mary. Jesus is not recognized when he calls her “woman”; so he calls her by name, as though he were saying: Recognize me as I recognize you; for I do not know you as I know others; I know you as yourself. And so Mary, once addressed by name, recognizes who is speaking. She immediately calls him rabboni, that is to say, teacher, because the one whom she sought outwardly was the one who inwardly taught her to keep on searching.

Week 15- Jesus Thanks His Father, declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath and fulfills the prophesy: In His name the Gentiles will hope.

Jesus Thanks His Father

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

Here we see the importance of repentance and active faith beyond simple knowledge of the law. The Pharisees and scribes knew the law so well they could bend it, twist it to meet their selfish purposes to the point of complete disregard for God's intent.  The Father sent the Son to bring the Good News of the redemption of mankind to the poor, the weak, the enslaved, the downtrodden. We are called to cast aside our burdens and take up the yoke of service and holiness. 

Plucking Grain on the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” 

This text can be related back to Exodus 31:

The Sabbath Law

The LORD said to Moses: You yourself are to speak to the Israelites: “You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, given in order that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the Israelites shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” 

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ex 31:12–17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

From these two texts now, we can pose and answer some questions with interesting answers pointing to the eternal and full deity of Jesus Christ.

Who is the Son of Man? (Jesus Christ is the Son of Man cf Mt 16:13-19)
Who is the Lord of the Sabbath? The Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Jesus Christ)
Who is the Lord of the Sabbath? Yahweh is the Lord of the Sabbath (Yahweh "You shall keep my sabbaths in order that you may know that I, Yahweh sanctify you." Ex 31:12)
What is the Sabbath? (Yahweh "It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.")
Who made heaven and earth? (Yahweh)

The Sabbath day is held in honor of the Lord of the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant and a sign forever of the six days of creation and the day of rest on the seventh. The position/title of Lord of the Sabbath can obviously only apply to GOD, the creator of heaven and earth; a title he lays claim to in Exodus 31. Therefore, Jesus Christ, who also establishes that He is the Lord of the Sabbath must be as one with GOD.  

God’s Chosen Servant

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 

    “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, 

    my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. 

    I will put my Spirit upon him, 

    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 

    He will not wrangle or cry aloud, 

    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 

    He will not break a bruised reed 

    or quench a smoldering wick 

    until he brings justice to victory. 

    And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” 

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 11:25–12:21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

For our JW friends and others... Isaiah invariably and emphatically prophesies the deity of Jesus Christ and... note here... it is the servant's name through which the gentiles will receive their hope of salvation. Ummm... that would be Jesus by the way. 

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel- July 16. "Do whatever He tells you."

Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera, splendor caeli, virgo puerpera singularis.

Mater mitis sed viri nescia Carmelitis esto propitia stella maris.

Radix Iesse germinans flosculum nos ad esse tecum in saeculum patiaris.

Inter spinas quae crescis lilium serva puras mentes fragilium tutelaris.

Armatura fortis pugnantium furunt bella tende praesidium scapularis.

Per incerta prudens consilium per adversa iuge solatium largiaris.

Mater dulcis Carmeli domina, plebem tuam reple laetitia qua bearis.

Paradisi clavis et ianua, fac nos duci quo, Mater, gloria coronaris. Amen. (Alleluia.)

FLOWER of Carmel, Tall vine blossom laden; Splendor of heaven, Childbearing yet maiden. None equals thee.

Mother so tender, Who no man didst know, On Carmel's children Thy favours bestow. Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse, Who bore one bright flower, Be ever near us And guard us each hour, who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies, That flowers among thorns, Bring help to the true heart That in weakness turns and trusts in thee.

Strongest of armour, We trust in thy might: Under thy mantle, Hard press'd in the fight, we call to thee.

Our way uncertain, Surrounded by foes, Unfailing counsel You give to those who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother Who in Carmel reigns, Share with your servants That gladness you gained and now enjoy.

Hail, Gate of Heaven, With glory now crowned, Bring us to safety Where thy Son is found, true joy to see. Amen. (Alleluia.)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Saint Simon Stock, Pray for us.

Feast of Saint Bonaventure

On this feast day of the Seraphic Doctor, I defer to his own beautiful words from today's Office of Readings

From the Journey of the Mind to God by St. Bonaventure

Mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit

Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a pasch, that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulchre, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: Today you will be with me in paradise.  For this passover to be perfect, we must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless he surrenders himself to it; nor can he surrender himself to it unless he longs for it; nor can he long for it unless the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame his innermost soul. Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit.  If you ask how such things can occur, seek the answer in God’s grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; seek the bridegroom not the teacher; God and not man; darkness not daylight; and look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries the soul to God with intense fervour and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is in Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardour of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones death. Anyone who cherishes this kind of death can see God, for it is certainly true that: No man can look upon me and live.  Let us die, then, and enter into the darkness, silencing our anxieties, our passions and all the fantasies of our imagination. Let us pass over with the crucified Christ from this world to the Father, so that, when the Father has shown himself to us, we can say with Philip: It is enough. We may hear with Paul: My grace is sufficient for you; and we can rejoice with David, saying: My flesh and my heart fail me, but God is the strength of my heart and my heritage for ever. Blessed be the Lord for ever, and let all the people say: Amen. Amen!

Sunday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

We are reminded today that Jesus is the Image of the unseen God and a vessel of such perfect purity in His incarnation, that the fullness of God dwells within Him (cf Col 1:15-20). Indeed, what can be a perfect image of something, but the something itself? Even "identical" twins, are not perfect images of themselves. Only Jesus, begotten from the Father, is the perfect, unblemished image of God. As Saint Gregory Nazianzen says, "He is called 'the Image of God' because he is consubstantial with the Father. He proceeds from the Father; the Father does not proceed from him" (De Theologia, 30, 20). The Son and the Father are of the same nature, as opposed to man being made in the image of God from a different nature i.e. earth.

In the Gospel, we further explore the image of God in humanity. Jesus deftly casts aside the human laws relating to castes, races, gender, nationality... and implores us to recognise everyone as our neighbour. "The concept of 'neighbour' is now universalised'" (Benedict XVI, Deus caritas est, 15).
The current run in Luke's telling of the gospel harkens to Matthew's story of the king in chapter 25."Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matt 25:40). Again, here were are called to recognise the face of Jesus... the Image of God in all people.

Deo gratias

Saturday Week 14: We are called to bear witness to Christ - not in secret, but openly and joyfully.

“The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving redemption, and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members” (Vatican II, Apostolicam actuositatem, 2).

C S S M L - N D S M D V. V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B

Thursday, July 11 2013

Feast of Saint Benedict - Father of Western Monasticism and Patron of a happy death 

 

Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Non draco sit mihi dux! Vade retro satana: Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas!

May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord! Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!
                            

Saint Benedict, Pray for Us.

Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur!

May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death!

Tuesday Week 14 A transition from the Old to the expanded New People of God.

There are few workers to reap such a great harvest. We should feel a deep sorrow, for although many wish to hear the good news, few are willing to preach it to them... Pray for us, so that our work for your good may be very fruitful, so that we may always continue to preach to you in a loud voice” (St Gregory the Great, Homiliae in Evangelia, 17, 3).

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.

In today's Gospel we hear of the disciples of Jesus being sent forth to spread the Good News and find new disciples so the message of repentance and salvation may be announced to the ends of the earth.
We find that the harvest (the potential people of God) is plentiful, but those willing and able to reap (seek out and present to the Lord of the harvest) are few.
Consider...  what happens to the harvest if it is not reaped in time? It may die, be eaten by vermin, be destroyed by storms,  droughts or fire...  So too the potential people of God. If they do not hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ as He intended...  they may die without the joy of the love of God in their hearts. They may be devoured by a corrupted message from heretics and schismatics. They may succumb to the odious powers of a secular relativist society which pretends to be natural and positive but is actually life and soul destroying.
Don't settle for the few workers. If you are not one of the laborers, you are no better than the vermin or the destructive storms and fires. Don't let the sheep stealers and grain grifters take from right under your noses a single child of God.

May almighty God bless the harvest and His labourers. Give them peace, fortitude and kindness in their daily lives. May their words, works and example be a true witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.

July 6 Feast of St Maria Goretti

Maria Goretti, born October 16 1890, was a profoundly courageous and faithful servant of God. The patron of youth, Maria defended her purity in the name of God against multiple advances from a 20 year old male. The interplay finally resulted in an angry stabbing attack and death on July 6 1902. Before succumbing to her wounds, Maria forgave her attacker. Maria was just 11 years old. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ4B4cVM5w8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

  
Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth,with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee may humanity turn from its self destruction in promoting abortion and homosexuality as viable, reasonable and acceptable, and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.

Friday Week Thirteen

Today, in Matt 9:9-15, the evangelist Matthew recalls his own encounter with Jesus when he was a tax collector and sinner. When challenged about His dubious associations, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees; "I desire mercy not sacrifice. I have come to call sinners, not the righteous."
Similarly in Our Lord’s words is St Faustina,  He assures us " I am love and mercy itself. ... Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. ... My mercy is greater than your sins, and those of the entire world."
Think you are too far gone for mercy and forgiveness from God? This is impossible. The greater the sin, the greater the mercy Jesus is burning to bestow upon us.
Drop whatever you are doing,  stop beating yourself up,  and listen to the Lord when He says "come follow me"... He is talking to YOU. He loves you like no other. You are unique in all the universe. He cannot replace you. This is why He loves you with an abiding and unconditional love.

Thursday Week 13

“By forgiving his sins, Jesus cured the man who was paralyzed, and showed in a visible way who he was. If God alone can forgive sins and the Lord forgave and cured men, then he is the Word of God made Son of man, with the power to forgive sins, both as man and as God. As man, he shared our poor nature; as God, he took pity on us and forgave our sins” (St Irenaeus, Adversus haereses, 5, 17, 3).

July 3 Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle

A personal favourite today; Thomas represents all the frailty of our humanity and fragility of our faith.

As Catholics, do we treasure the gifts we are given in faith?

Just this evening I was chatting with an older gentleman after daily mass...who very sweetly mistook me for being 12 younger than I am...he was amazed and heartened that someone in my age group is so devoted to the Mass. (I travel about 30 kilometres each day to attend.)

So many so called "cradle Catholics" seem to take the richness of the faith for granted. They do not see the sheer beauty of God's Church.

Like the ex-smoker, it is the later life converts to the true and full Church of Jesus Christ, that are often the most vocal and powerful apologists.

Those of us, in a similar way to Thomas, who have known the fullness of Jesus all our lives, can take Him for granted; even doubt His true majesty. Meanwhile, those who learn of Jesus and the fullness of God later in life... believe with a zealous passion that should make many of us feel deeply ashamed.

Dear Lord,
Fill my heart with a passionate love for you. Give me the strength and willingness to proclaim your gospel to all I meet. In moments of doubt or conflict, remind me of your good friend Saint Thomas who, having placed his hand in the lance wound in your side, did joyfully preach the Gospel to heathen India and received a martyr's death through a similar wound.

Why are you afraid?

Be always steadfast in your faith, for the Lord is steadfast in His love for you as if you were His only child.

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.

May everything I do and say, think and feel be focused upon the magnification of the Lord

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

For in all my faults and errors; trials and tribulations; the Lord never fails to magnify my soul

The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.

In His kindness He reveals to me, a mere creature of dust, the Way to eternal life. He deals with me with the kindness of a Father and a small child learning to walk

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.

How deep is the Lord's love? How inexhaustible His Mercy? He who created all things from love. He who needs nothing from me. I, who am nothing without Him and everything to Him.

As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.

He knew my soul since before the world was born. He has formed me in His likeness. A second son. As with Isaac, Jacob and Moses before; the inheritance of the Lord; life eternal, awaits those who know and love Him

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord every moment of my life; transform my soul that I may do your will on earth and prepare your everlasting kingdom.

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

May my lips be as a heavenly messenger proclaiming the wonders of the Lord.