Reading 1: IS 50:4-7

Responsorial Psalm: PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24.

Reading 2: PHIL 2:6-11

Gospel:MT 26:14—27:66 OR 27:11-54

Liturgical colour: Red.

Today, we come together as the church to celebrate a feast day that consists of 2 totally opposite double edges. On the one hand, we have all the pomp and  glorious ceremony of our Lord Jesus arriving into Jerusalem  as the King of Kings amongst all the palms that were laid down in his pathway, and also of those being waved to the glorious shouts of ‘Hosanna!’ and ‘Alleluia!’ by the  joyful and excited crowds.

On the other hand, we have Jesus who is already focussing upon the cross, knowing that he will very soon be betrayed, denied by his own. Knowing and accepting that he will be tried, mocked, tortured and crucified to atone for our sins!

I have heard people asking, exactly what does this meaning pf Palm Sunday have in our lives today?

Well, as Christians, We are supposed to accept and honour our Lord, totally welcoming him with all that we are, into our lives, into our very hearts and soul. But do we do this wholeheartedly, or are we like the feast of today..having 2 opposite sides?

Do we truly welcome Jesus as Our Lord and Saviour, as our King of kings into every facet of our being, or do we only do this when things are good within our lives?

Do we all too often  tend to celebrate, welcome and worship our Lord Jesus as our true Lord, Saviour and Heavenly King, when things are joyous within our lives, but yet, then betray and deny him and his truth, in times of sufferings?

As an example, let us look at the current situation within our lives of the Cov=19 virus. So many times, I have been seeing this virus as being said to be sent from God as a punishment. Sadly, and all too often, a punishment wrongly classed as God’s wrath against certain of our brothers  and sisters within our society. Usually said due to personal human agenda that has crept into the teaching of the faith to many.

So, what could this example have to do with welcoming and celebrating our Lord  Jesus,  yet then denying and betraying him? This is only one example of many which I could’ve used here as sadly, this happens for a multitude of differing reasons.

It is simply that each time we use anything that is not of God, within our lives to justify things in His Holy Name for human purposes, , we are indeed both denying and betraying Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!  We are welcoming him in good times as if in the Joyous occasion of palm Sunday celebrations, but then Just as Judas did when he betrayed our Lord to the Romans, and when Peter denied knowing him 3 times, we are betraying and denying him when we are difficult times!

What we should be doing is always focussing on our Lord at all times and his teaching at all times, whether they be times of rejoicing, or indeed of sufferings.

Just as Our Lord Jesus went through the good times, he still always kept focused upon what he knew was coming, what he was there to do..the Will of God his Father. He gladly accepted all for our sakes!

If we are truly followers of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,  we as he did, need to always be focused upon him and upon his Holy Cross. Just as Jesus did, we must take up our crosses and follow Jesus at all times, whether  in good or in suffering.

So let us take up our crosses and follow our Lord at all times, and in all situations. Let us keep our eyes firmly on Him who willingly sacrificed all for each of us, and not let us become double-minded in our faith! Let us take up our crosses and follow with joy, as the sufferings of this world are only temporary and will flee away, but the salvation of Our Lord is eternal and shall never fade away!

May the Lord bless you this Palm Sunday!

 

Oratorium Sancti Sebastian & Peregrine Gevgelija Macedonia

As we approach closer to the feast of the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, let implore ourselves to the will of God.

We see many signs of His majesty, natural signs, earthquakes for the last 63 hours about 11 earthquakes in Zagreb, the pandemic in Italy, Spain, throughout Europe and now all over the globe.

God is talking to us, to repent and come close to Him, in his hands are all lives and destinies, he is warning us and reminding us of our sins, to turn to him, all that we have forgotten, now we are close in this lent, all of those signs are remind us that soon our lives going to end soon or later, and he wants all humanity to be saved, and never before the humanity haven’t been so distant from all that we see daily in the news or internet, as exist people that watching, hearing seeing and areas till stubborn, and many will praise and repent to God, and many will still be blind and deaf.

Will come time of tribulations for the church, but do not be afraid. Jesus have overcome the evil, and his promise for us Christians is that he will deliver us from hardship.

We need to endure perseverance, faithfulness and commitment to our vocation and our daily testimony to all people that ask us, that they will praise Lord seeing how we stay loyal to our Lord, serving him in adoration and love.

Hard times are coming for the humanity, but Jesus have overcome all negative evil devils work.

Now is time for repentance, now is the time for turning to God, now is the time for renewal of our spirit to become in unity with God as his bride, the Holy Church, the safe place for us as Jesus have given his promises in time for coming the worst, but that is not the end of humanity and civilization.

The individual will of all of us given to stay close to him and to not fear, despite what is coming in our present time, he will not be going to despise or reject us.

This is time for great exams for all of us.

He is alpha and omega, he has his ultimate word. In this worldwide lockdown when we socially distant ourselves from each other, is time for becoming closer to God in prayer and reflecting upon God’s word and promises.

We have better world in the heaven with the father and the son and the holy ghost. Amen

25.III.2020 the feast of the annunciation of BVM

Reading 1: IS 7:10-14; 8:10

Responsorial Psalm: 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 11

Reading 2: HEB 10:4-10

Gospel: LK 1:26-38.

Liturgical colour: White.

Today’s we celebrate the Annunciation of The Lord. I feel this is an excellent occasion for each of us to reflect upon our life vocations.  Every single  one of us, like Mary, have a  predestined vocation in life.  It is  definitely not by chance, it was planned by God for us before we were born.  God has created each one of us here upon the Earth for a purpose, that purpose being to manifest His glory and  to share His love, so that at the end of our earthly journey, we can share the fullness of eternal life with Him.  And so, each of us, just as Mary did, must ensure the time to discern our vocation in life,  to find out exactly what  it is which God is calling us to do.  The way the Lord wants us to serve Him might change according to life’s situation.  Therefore, we  must endeavour  to constantly be sensitive, like Mary indeed was, to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and how we should respond to God’s call.  When Mary asked the angel, “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?”, it was not  with a similar  response to that which was like Zechariah who asked in doubt.  For Mary, she truly and devoutly wanted to know how the Lord would make use of her for the work of redemption.

So it is of vital importance to remind ourselves constantly within our lives, that we need to ask what  exactly it is which the Lord is asking of us. Sadly,  Many, unfortunately, instead of seeking  their vocation, seek to do their own will, rather than the Will of God in their lives instead. When we do not consult God and are simply willful in going our own way, we will bring disaster not just to ourselves but also to those  that God has placed under our care.   Indeed, many of us, instead of discerning the will of God in whatever we do, turn to worldly answers instead.

Today, we actually come together to celebrate not just Mary alone in her Vocation,  but we celebrate both our Lord Jesus and Mary for taking up their vocation in life.  Originally, today was singly celebrated as the Annunciation of Mary  only, but it the church changed this to the Annunciation of the Lord.  The church amended this because it is in fact both  our Lord Jesus’ and Mary’s vocations that are intertwined.  Mary’s response to the call to be the Mother of God is what paved the way for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, to be incarnated and for the work of redemption of humanity.  Mary in saying “Yes” to God, considered herself as being “the handmaid of the Lord.”

Try to imagine the truthful immense scale of the decision of Mary to accept her vocation  to be The mother of our Saviour. This certainly was anything but an easy decision, but Mary put her complete trust in the Will of the blessed vocation that God had willed for her. Let us consider the implications of her decision to be the mother of the Lord and saviour!.  As any mother will know, it is not so difficult to give birth to a baby but to look after a baby for the rest of your life, that is a different matter altogether.  Marriage is another example of a difficult decision because to get married is very easy but to remain faithful and loving to your spouse every day of your life requires tremendous sacrifices and sufferings.  So when Mary gave her consent, she too consented to all that would follow after that big and fundamental “Yes.”  So, this also applies, for all who chooses to follow the vocation God has willed for their life.  Making our decision to follow the will of God for our lives, is truly only the beginning of a lifelong commitment.  We accept God’s will for the entirety of our  lives, So therefore, we should not complain and or have regret when we choose to be a priest, religious, a spouse or a church worker, or whatever vocation that God has willed for us to have in his service, because every vocation comes together with all its joys and sorrows. Quite often, when people face trials in their vocation, be it in their priestly or religious life, or in marriage and family life, they regret and complain. In accepting that vocation, it entails all the obligations and demands that flow from that commitment.

Both Jesus and Mary recognized that answering God’s call required total self-emptying.  It is a sacrifice of oneself,  the giving one’s mind, heart and body to God completely for His service.

That was exactly why Mary said to the angel, “Let what you have said be done to me.”  She was totally disposed to the will of God.  To do God’s will is to  completely submit our lives to Him in obedience.  It is to give ourselves wholly for the service of God and to empty our lives for humanity like both Jesus  and Mary did.  We are called to serve both justice and truth.

Let us pray:

Saying “Yes” to the vocation that God Wills for our lives is the only wise decision. This is what was predestinated by God for us before we were born. We ask Mary the Mother of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus christ, to intercede for us with her prayers, so that, we, like she did, will have the courage and discipline to say “Yes” to God. We rejoice together with Mary that God’s will shall be done in our lives.

Amen.

EPH 5:8-14

Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

Well I thought this would be a hard sermon to write but as usual I was wrong!

This is pretty much self explanatory and shouldn’t require much explanation but here goes. This may be the shortest sermon in history.

You were once darkness but now you are light in the lord – until you accepted the lord Jesus Christ as your savior you were dark and gloomy. Now you are filled with the light of his love and should be a beacon broadcasting your light for all to see.

Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Live your life as a disciple of Christ, follow Christ’s teaching and his one commandment: love one another as I have loved you. If you live your life in the same manner as Christ lived his and as he commanded us, then you will produce goodness. Even more important today with everything going on in the world concerning the Corona virus – we need to love one another more now than ever. Share your supplies, check on your neighbor, don’t be greedy and leave something on the shelf for others to purchase. Make sure the elderly have enough to eat, make sure they have their needed medicines, and just ask them what they need to get through this crisis.

Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Loving one another is pleasing to the Lord, showing kindness to others is pleasing to the Lord. Practice these every day. Be patient, be understanding, ask your neighbors if the need any help during this time of crisis and every day. Offer to help where needed, offer kind words of encouragement and love.

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret – don’t waste your time on worthless things, dedicate all your available time to works that glorify the Lord and proclaim his love and goodness.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” If you are not proclaiming Christs love, you are dead and asleep. When you arise and awaken in Christs love,  each day is like a new day. A new day to explore the world and proclaim his goodness. You will be led out of the darkness of sin and bathed in the loving light of the Lord.

Lord in your mercy, show us the path to the light, lead us our of the darkness and awaken us so that we may proclaim Your love, kindness and mercy. Help us to live as children of the light. Amen.

 

 

.

 

Reading 1: 2 SM 7:4-5A, 12-14A, 16

R Psalm: 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29

Reading 2: ROM 4:13, 16-18, 22

Gospel: MT 1:16, 18-21, 24A

Liturgical colour: White.

Today, we come together as the church to celebrate St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the step=father of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Where Joseph lived is not entirely clear in the scriptures as in Matthew, it implies that he lived in Bethlehem, whereas in John it states that Joseph actually originally came from Nazareth. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, even though they hadn’t  yet been wed but were currently bethrothed, he “planned to dismiss her quietly” because he was “unwilling to expose her to public disgrace.” But before he could cancel their wedding, “an angel of the Lord” appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:21).

Just imagine the seriousness of the situation which Mary and Joseph were in with Mary’s virgin pregnancy.  In the days of Mary and Joseph, Jewish women in ancient Israel were passed from one male authority (their fathers) to another (their husbands) at a very young age. Most were betrothed by the time they were thirteen and married by fourteen. With such early marriages, premarital sex was most likely not a common occurrence, but indeed it did happen as we can see by the law set in place in the Old Testament and the punishment metered out for breaking this law:

If a man marries a girl who is claimed to be a virgin, and then finds that she is not, “they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her father’s house and there her townsmen shall stone her to death” (Deut. 22:20).

As you can clearly see from the holy scripturs,, the status of betrothal was almost identical to the status of  actually being a married woman. A betrothed woman who lay with a man that was not her intended husband, was subject to the punishment of being stoned to death, it was considered to be the same as if she had actually committed adultery.

Mary knew the punishment she faced— that of death by stoning. She had nothing but the story of an angel to tell to her parents and also to Joseph, the man to whom she was betrothed to marry.  Joseph would have been well within his rights—even within his duty of the time—to expose her sin and to witness her death by stoning.

It was only with the intervention of an angel and with Joseph’s own faith-filled acceptance of the angel’s message, that saved both Mary’s life and the life of her unborn baby, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus christ, the Son of God.

From the Holy Scriptures we learn that St. Joseph’s great virtue was his obedient faith. “He did as the angel of the Lord  had commanded him to do. Joseph took Mary as his wife.” (Mt. 1:24). He took her in the mystery of her motherhood and  he acted in obedient faith,  just as did Mary when she said, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1:38).

St. Joseph proved himself to as a righteous man, as husband to Mary, and as an earthly father to Jesus. Joseph brought Jesus up as his own child, with all the natural love and affection of a father’s heart, even though he was only His stepfather (it is commonly said as foster father, but the husband of a wife with a child, is a stepfather). Joseph placed his entire life in the complete service of God in his self-giving for our  Lord and Saviour who grew up in his house. And Jesus grew “in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man.” (Lk. 2:52.)

Such faith and devotion Joseph indeed had! He accepted the news from the angel about Mary’s pregnancy by the Holy Spirit, he took her wholeheartedly as his wife, sparing her from the certain disgrace and death as per the law in those days. Then Joseph accepted Jesus as his own son and raised him with all the love and care that a true father should.

Joseph is an excellent example as a righteous man, as a husband and as a loving Father. We can all take from this example within our own lives. He listened to the angel who spoke to him the will of God about Mary’s pregnancy. He accepted in faith without question. He accepted Mary when he could’ve abandoned her to certain death, and then also accepted Jesus, to be as  though his own Son.

Do we follow the example of both Mary and indeed of Joseph within our own lives? Are we willing to believe even though we haven’t seen? Are we willing to follow the will of God in all circumstances, just as they did?

Let us pray:

Blessed Joseph, Husband of Mary,

Be with us this day.

You protected and cherished the virgin Mary;

Loving and accepting Jesus as your own son.

You saved both Mary and the unborn Lord Jesus from certain death by your faith and acceptance of God’s holy will.

We pray that you defend the church,

And all the household of God,

Which was purchased by the blood of Christ.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading 1: GN 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Responsorial Psalm: PS 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

Reading 2: ROM 5:12-19 OR 5:12, 17-19

OR 5:12, 17-19

Gospel: MT 4:1-11

Liturgical colour: Purple/violet

Let us first read what we are being told in today’s Gospel of MT 4:1-11:

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.  The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”  He said in reply, “It is written:  One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.  For it is written:  He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”  Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”  At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan!  It is written:  The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

We see that in today’s Gospel, that Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert.

We are told that whilst Jesus was in the desert, he heard the devil quote Psalm 91:11-12, challenging Jesus to take God at His word. The devil begins by saying, “If you are the Son of God….” The challenge is given for Jesus to prove his identity to himself — and to others — and to take advantage of his power. So, we can clearly see that Satan can cite Scripture for the purpose of his own personal agenda.

 

Even The church isn’t immune to this and can also fall prey to it, as sometimes, scripture is used to oppress people and to discriminate against them.  We need to not only listen intently to the words that are being said but need to listen intently also to evaluate the person who is saying the words. We need to ascertain whether indeed we are truly listening to an adviser, or indeed if could it be a tempter? — Is the person a builder or are they a destroyer? Does the person possibly have a hidden agenda — or maybe a personal axe to grind?

It is actually possible to use Scripture to prove just about any position at all. The point is that finding the right path between what is true and what may be being used for the purposes of Temptation is not always obvious.

Now that is what many of the choices which you and I face are like that we may face in our life. It is very difficult to make the choice between what is truly good and that which is bad or a cause of temptation. Christians on either side of the fence on many issues often find themselves in complete disagreement as to what is good and what is bad, to what is wholesome truth and what is actually being used as a means of temptation.

Each of the temptations which Jesus faced could all have been seen as being ambiguous in nature because:

to feed hunger was a good thing,

to show everybody his power by throwing himself off a building would be a good thing,

to overthrow the might of Rome would have been a good thing.

Even our Lord Jesus needed to think very carefully about the decisions which he was to make. The choice between good true things and of bad ways of tempting sin is not always easy.

So, we seek that our Lenten observance leads us to a deeper awareness of the world in which we live and its challenges. So that indeed, we may be far better prepared to wrestle with the important issues of our world and avoid any temptations to conform to things which are incompatible with our faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

Temptation is VERY real!! We can and indeed, sometimes do, take the wrong path in our decision making.

The Temptations of Jesus were Very real temptations, he still but did not sin! For them to be real temptations, there must have been the possibility that Jesus would have chosen the wrong path, so there was danger and risk involved. Throughout his ministry Jesus faced these very real temptations.

We all know that Jesus did not overcome temptation only once, but indeed, he overcame temptation, that he would face throughout his ministry. In his life we all think about Gethsemane, when Jesus was really under immense pressure in the Garden. ‘Father let this cup pass from me’

So, what do we learn from this?

We learn that temptation might be ambiguous, but it is also a very real thing!!

Each of us can make the wrong decisions and we frequently do. This is not an academic exercise, some kind of theological enquiry. The message is that we always have to be vigilant!  In 1 Peter Chapter 5, 8 we read

Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

To finish let me end of a message of hope and good news.

Lent is often viewed negatively as a time of don’ts, of having to give up things, of fasting, of abstinence or of the withdrawal of merriment.

But Lent is indeed supposed to be a time of hope!! Jesus confronted temptation and was able to say ‘no’ to wrong actions, just as in Gethsemane he said ‘yes’ when called upon to do God’s will. So now we know there is hope for us!!!

It is possible to resist temptation. It is possible to make the right choices, to resist the pressures of our culture and society and to be free. It is possible to turn away from consumerism, materialism, violence, racism, and all kinds of social and personal sin.

The fact that Jesus made the right decision is good for us, it is a sign of hope for us all.

Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fine, powdery, dark gray and black ashes, smudged onto our foreheads in the shape of a cross, for all the world to imagine what we’ve been doing, looking like we bumped our heads while cleaning out the fireplace, and forgot to wash that part of our faces…

Just a few ashes…symbolizing more than most of us realize as we go through the motions of Ash Wednesday.  What do we say to people who ask us the obvious question:  What IS that on your head?  Why do you have black stuff on your face?

Why WILL we participate in this strange custom this evening?  What DOES it mean?  The spiritual practice of applying ashes on oneself as a sign of sincere repentance goes back thousands of years. Frequently in the days of the Old and the New Testament, when someone had sinned, he clothed his body with sackcloth and covered himself with ashes. [Jer. 6:26]  The sacramental that we are observing today arises from that custom, the spiritual practice of observing public penitence.  Church history tells us that the liturgical practice of applying ashes on one’s forehead during the Lenten Season goes back as far as the eighth century. This was accompanied by different forms of fasting, prayer, sacrifices, charity towards others, etc… The writings of St. Leo, around 461 A.D., tell us that during the Lenten Season, he exhorted the faithful to abstain from certain food to fulfill with their fasts the Apostolic institution of forty days.  In the days of the Old Testament, many tore their clothing as a sign of repentance.

Today, we use the ashes as a reminder of who we are.  The Bible tells us that we came from the dust and to the dust we shall return.  The first human was formed out of the dust of the earth by God and then God breathed life into that dust.  That is a powerful image.  One that is meant to remind us that without the breath or Spirit of God moving in us, we are just like these ashes: lifeless – worthless.  The ashes that many of us will wear tonight are meant to be for us symbols of our repentance and signs that we truly seek to follow in God’s path.

The people in the Biblical stories probably put the ashes on top of their heads – so why do we, instead of putting these ashes on our heads, put them in the sign of the cross on our foreheads?

We do so because it is a reminder of how we are sealed for Christ.  In most churches when a baby is baptized the minister or priest uses oil to mark the child with the sign of the cross.  The mark of the cross is a mark of ownership.  These ashes tonight remind us that we are Christ’s – that he died so that we might live.  These may be just a few ashes but they mean a lot.  They are a symbol of our need for God.  We are nothing but dust and ashes apart from God.

But what about Lent itself?  What is it?  Why do we have this season?  Most of us were taught that the lengthy period of Lent was one of penitence and fasting, a time provided for those who were separated from the church by their sins, so they could be reconciled by acts of penitence and forgiveness.

For most of us, Lent is the time of sometimes painful self-examination, during which we scrutinize our habits, our spiritual practice, and our very lives – hoping to make ourselves better, trying to make ourselves worthy of the love of God.  We “step up” our prayer, fasting, and self-denial in order to remove worldly distractions from our lives. And we take on Bible study, classes, and service projects in order to add meaning and depth to our existence.  For some children, Lent means no sweets, for teenagers, less time on Facebook. For adults, it may be consuming less meat or alcohol, or attending that Lenten course offered by the Church.

However we go about it, the goal is pretty much the same: Lent makes us ready for Easter. Quite simply put, we are better able to appreciate Resurrection joys come Easter Day by enduring these Lenten disciplines now.

The Old Testament Lessons, the Psalm appointed for today, and today’s Gospel Reading all tell us the “how” and “why” of Lent.  But then, there is Paul.  Saint Paul tells is, right off the bat, in the very first verse of the Epistle for today, to “BE RECONCILED TO GOD.”  Nowhere does he say, “Observe a Holy Lent, THEN be reconciled to God.”  Not after enduring a forty-day fast. Not after lengthy Bible study. Not even after prayer, but now, here, today: Be reconciled to God.  Paul not only invites us to be reconciled to God, he actually beseeches us. That is, he pleads, implores, presses, begs, and demands. “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. … Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.”

If we but recognize this, if we are but reconciled to our God NOW, and THEN work toward our Lenten goals of fasting, of prayer, and of penitence, if we seek to discipline ourselves during Lent, and make those disciplines into daily habits, we will not only most assuredly have the Holy Lent we all desire, but will come to live a more holy life in general.  And isn’t that, really, what Lent is all about in the first place?  Amen.

 

Dominican Hermitage/Oratorium Sancti Peregrin ad Sebastian; Marshal Tito 157; 1480 GEVGELIJA; North Macedonia

Homily for 23.II.2020 Sunday VII in Ordinary Time or Quinquegesima Sunday

 

This is very special season in the liturgical year, even though it is still called in some denominations as ordinary time, yet nothing seems so ordinary.

The Previous weekend the Sunday of Sexagesima, previous of that Seuptagesima, preparing us into Lent season, reflecting in the scripture of old testament historical events in the history of Israel, seventy years of Babylonian captivity, or the 400 years of slavery in Egypt.

This Sunday we reflect of this preparation to do our examination of soul, to repair, to heal, to sort it our relations with our subjects, neighbors, and especially to stand where we are at the moment and to ask God for his guidance and strengthening our souls and bodies to be ready for the banquet of the bridegroom’s wedding.

Let’s strive for the repentant and humble heart for reconciliation and peace and daily accept his bloody and body, to implore our life in faith, that to profess our faith and commitment to our Lord, let our daily moves, actions, in little kindness moments bring joy and love to the unhappy and lonely people that we might know.

Let’s put our broken heart with charity act and offer to those in need. Let’s preach this Gospel of showing love, affection and charity. Take a note, sign as much names of known and unknown that you want to petition to our Lord. Those little savings, buy some bread or give the money to the beggar, find time to become daily two or three hours of hermit. Read Scripture or the holy elders, pray and petition, but outside our words must be good charitable and voluntarily work for the sake of the poor. T=That is our commandment from God. This ultimate catch might be for some of our brothers including me as well, for the new preparation in our quinquagesima season, let’s examine all that separates us from God, so we can offer in our lent repair our relationship, to nourish in His merciful love of acceptance of us as prodigal sons, with or strongholds, to spent more time of reading, meditating, reflecting, silence of waiting of his word, lets learn to listen more as well., reading spiritual books such as St John the Ladder with The Ladder of the Imitations of Christ by St Thomas Kempis. To strive for that intimate moments, spending and reflecting daily more and more, to ask for guidance and restoration of our hearts, so the peace of our Lord find worth place to remain in us. Let’s seek that God’s wisdom daily and His peace because is it said from God through his wisdom speaker of Solomon, who find wisdom finds the happiness. Because Gods wisdom is love and a light of our path in this valley of tears. Now is the hour, let us grasp and take this special offering of worth preparation. Let’s cut and stop all that separate us from spending time for Gods daily spiritual food. We must trust Him as He is always faithful to our unfaithfulness, with him as the first always put himself to save us in our daily struggles. Without Him, we are lost. Now is the time, very near, the day for our hope to be reborn again, with clean heart and renewed strength.

In some events in our life, have caused us to as “God have forgotten me?” But regardless of storms intensity, you remain in the forefront of God’s thoughts, He’s thinking of you, sustaining you, comforting you, giving you strength.

Now is the season to foster a deeper and more constant trust in the reality that God is always present with us. He doesn’t mentally check out whatever challenge you’re facing isn’t the worst thing that could happen to you. The worst that could happen would be for God to forget about you. But He’s hasn’t yet, and he never will.

Let’s encourage one another or someone else to turn to Christ for a fresh start in this preparation season of quinquegesima Sunday. Our all life is about struggle, failings, pushdowns, so when we kneel before Christ, we kneel before one who can relate to our struggles, and hardships. He kneels before God alongside us to revitalize our energy, providing relief from our stress, set us free from sin and enable us to endure life’s storms. Then through his spirit he offers us a fresh start and new beginning.

As the prince of the preachers, the Venerable servant of God Charles Spurgeon I will end with his words:  “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion- it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ”

Let us catch this quinquegesima season week ordinary Sunday seventh to offer to God all that separates us of growing of His wisdom and His guidance who is Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

18.II.2020 Gevgelija/North Macedonia

 

 

Liturgical colour: Green.

 

Reading 1:SIR 15:15-20

Responsorial Psalm:PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Reading 2:1 COR 2:6-10

Gospel: MT 5:17-37 OR 5:20-22A, 27-28, 33-34A, 37

 

Let’s first look at what the Gospel is telling us today:

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,  not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter  will pass from the law,  until all things have taken place.  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments  and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgement. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement;  and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.  Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.  Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

 

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.  “It was also said,  Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.  But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife –  unless the marriage is unlawful –  causes her to commit adultery,  and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.  But I say to you, do not swear at all;  not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.  Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’  Anything more is from the evil one.”  (MT 5:17-37)

Though the Sermon on the Mount was in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth, He had already begun His ministry earlier on. Prior to this sermon He was tempted in the desert by Satan, baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, healed many people, and had already preached to many crowds.

The people who were present at this sermon on the mount were His first disciples and I’m sure others who chose to follow Him.

This crowd was not shocked I’m sure that He was who He said He was (although some doubted), but they were shocked because it was a completely knew spin on His teaching.

Before He would preach His deity as well as the coming of the kingdom, but now He is saying He is the complete fulfillment of the law.

Our Lord Jesus fulfilled God’s law in every aspect of His life, let us take a look:

In His birth (Galatians 4:4)

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, In His teaching (Matthew 5:17)  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Romans 10:4

Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Galatians 3:23–25 NIV

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.    So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.

Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Galatians 3:13 NIV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

He set aside the Old Covenant and brought in the New Covenant

Simply put: Jesus did not destroy the law, He fulfilled it as was God’s plan all along. He ushered in God’s grace to save us from the demands and penalties of the law.

His disciples would not fully understand this until His death and resurrection was complete, when He said “it is finished”.

 

So, like Jesus, how can we fulfill God’s law in our lives:  Through the Holy Spirit By dying to the law to live by the Holy Spirit

Romans 7:4-6

By loving God and loving others

Romans 13:8-10

By living for God & allowing Christ to live in us

Galatians 3:19-21

 

We can seek to do and teach God’s Law:

 

The law can serve as a mirror to guide our lives

1 Timothy 1:8–11 The Message

It’s true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say.

 

It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life,

 

They are contemptuous of this great Message we have been put in charge of by this great God.

God’s Law shows the sin that keeps us from a relationship with Him.

But God’s law requires us to share the grace that comes through forgiveness.

God’s moral law has not changed.

9 of the 10 commandments were repeated and commanded in the NT

The “keeping of the Sabbath Day” was strictly given as a command to the people of Israel as a sign.

 

To summarize the law- we do not obey an external law because of fear, believers today obey this law because of love.

​

See when we focus on the law to slam people or shame and guilt them we often become no better than the Scribes or the Pharisees.

And when we continue to make ourselves a slave to the law and not fully give our hearts to the Lord, we become no better than the Scribes and Pharisees.

Not only that, if we can’t fulfill the whole law we still aren’t righteous according to it. It’s all or nothing if we judge by the law.

The Scribes and Pharisee’s failed to satisfy the heart and mind.

They were self righteous and glorified themselves, not God.

This was Jesus’ exact point. And that was Jesus’ exact warning to His followers on this hillside.

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.”

Jesus wants to take our burdens. He wanted to take the burdens of the Scribes and Pharisees, too.

He came so we didn’t have to live as slaves to the law but free in Him.

Only Jesus offers that freedom.

Matthew 5:20 NIV

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

We can often get hung up on this verse ourselves and think we have fallen short of where we need to be.

 

But the good news is… Jesus came to save short people!

That’s me and it’s you.

So the question now is, “How do we know if we have the kind of righteousness that Jesus wants us to have?”

If we are judgmental, self seeking or prideful it’s probably a good time to turn over your heart to the Lord.

But Jesus does give us a clear answer but it won’t be quick.

This is what the whole sermon on the mount is.

Now that Jesus gets His audience’s attention, after shaking their religious beliefs to the core, he expands and over the next 27 verses defines God’s law- not on how people behave BUT in terms of who they really are. (5:21-48).

Mal 3:1-4; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40

When I close my eyes and looking  with my inner eyes the temple, the place of worship and prayer where Jewish people gather from all parts of Israel, beautiful temple, and Jesus was consecrated and offered to God in the temple, a little baby child, revealing his solemn entrance as he will be later be welcomed on Palm Thursday. This is very seen sign from the multitude as witness for the ends of times, that He is born in likeness of men, taking human body, been circumcised on eighth day and now the 40thies days by the law prescribed of Moses, all of this steps and path , he is doing to fulfill the scripture as Lord and perfect men.

What makes my heart melting is when I think about my anniversary of vocational discernment , sometimes I count the day of my simple vows or should I think from the perpetual vows, but every Presentation is an anniversary to myself and to all religious brothers and sisters in this world, as oblates, missionaries, hermits, monks, nuns all that encounter and dedicate whole body and soul to the temple, the higher even the mystical body, the bride of our Redeemer.

Very touching moment, great revelation for deliverance of Israel. Here was someone, an elder, rightful and just prophet Simeon and from the other part I can say a model of an oblate or a religious, a faithful in prayer and fast, the old widow Anna. Such a blessing from God to hold the infant Jesus. Holy Ghost have told to their hearts whom they shall see before they die.

This reveal to us, if we stay faithful to God, he will secure our life even when we become very old, Gods promises are fulfilled for people devoted totally to Him, depending of His mercy and grace. I am so touched from these two models for today’s life. St Simeon and St Anna, she is a model of faithfulness and dedicated devotionals, and the fasting. St Simeon revealed that our LORD as he took mortal flesh, he humbled himself, but we are encouraged that Savior is born, to save our fallen nature and sin, and make a new covenant, became one of us in every suffering, thirst, hunger, but not in sin. He is God, he was recognized in Simenon’s eyes .

Let us pray God to open our eyes, so we can recognize Him and accept him un the beggar , in the poor.

As we are about to embark on another new year, it seem appropriate that the words of St Simeon in the Gospel should ring in our ears. That this infant Jesus our Redeemer our LORD, He will be fall and rise of many. He is fall for those who reject Him, those who will accept, listen and follow His path and His words, He will be their heavenly delight.

When we hear those words spoken to the Holy Mother Theotokos, that She will suffer a lot. But reading I notice not despair scene, we see in the temple Simeon, Anna and the Holy Family, Mary Joseph and Jesus., and they do not lament or murmur, or be in depression or agony. This is accepted as will of the God, and they had joy in there hearts and souls, even is predicted difficulty that have to occur.

Sometimes at a great cost this world, and those who should know you better, will hate you, despise you, say all sorts of lies against you. Let this evil world of those wicked take the easy path and its glory in this life and you can say like St Simeone “Now let Your servant dismiss according to Your word in peace, because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared before the face of all people. A light to the revelation of the gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel”

True happiness is you’re your happiness to remain in Lords heart.

Dear devoted brothers and sisters who live vowed and consecrated life, lets have this memory in our hearts, as mutual feast that have to unite our parts, personalities  and skills to continuation of living daily gospel through our simple and humble actions. Lets strive to take our daily remind or recommendation of the holy widow Anna, and the holy elder Simeon, how they served in Gods temple, let our priories, oratories, missions, chapels proclaim in honor of that temple and of hope for beter and eternal life within the New Jerusalem

 

Gevgelija 28.II.2020 on the feast of St Thomas Aquinas in the Gevgelian Oratory in Macedonia