Category: Lesson
Oops! There It…Wait….. ~ Pope St. Leo the Great ~ Br. Chip Noon, Novice
“God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.”
This poem by William Cowper, written in 1773, could be taken as a motto for our present time. And it is most certainly applicable to the Saint whom we venerate today, the day of his death over fifteen hundred years ago.
Saint Leo was a man of many contradictions from our vantage point all these years later. So it is important to remember the times in which he lived, and the chaos and turmoil which all Europeans faced.
Saint Leo became Pope, the Bishop of Rome, in 440. The Roman Empire was threatened and attacked on all sides by people who wanted what Rome had and was no longer willing to share as it once did. The Vandals, Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Huns, and other tribes invaded Roman lands either for plunder or because they were being pushed out of their own lands. Rome had been sacked in 410 and was under constant threat, while its legions were retreating back toward Italy.
The authority of the Roman State was palpably disintegrating and Christians, as both participants in the government and critics of it, were at everyone’s mercy.
So here comes Leo, from an aristocratic family and used to authority, in his thirties he was sufficiently powerful that he was honored with a dedication to a treatise against heresy and asked for political help by Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria. At the age of 40 he was elected Pope.
A man of deep learning and broad education, Leo was constantly working to explain and elucidate the theology surrounding the person of Jesus Christ and his role as mediator and savior. There was not a conflict among theologians of the Christian world that he was not privy to and willing to give his opinion about.
In his Christmas Day Sermon he preached:
Our Saviour, dearly-beloved, was born today: let us be glad. For there is no proper place for sadness, when we keep the birthday of the Life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings to us the joy of promised eternity. No one is kept from sharing in this happiness. There is for all one common measure of joy, because as our Lord the destroyer of sin and death finds none free from charge, so is He come to free us all. Let the saint exult in that he draws near to victory. Let the sinner be glad in that he is invited to pardon. Let the gentile take courage in that he is called to life…
We find him ecumenical in his ideas and joyful in his message. And his other writings as well show a true man of God and shepherd of his flock.
But here we find this deacon of the church embroiled in geopolitics that rivaled almost anything we have today. Sent as a legate on a diplomatic mission, he was away from Rome when Pope Sixtus III died and he was unanimously elected Pope. As Pope, he worked diligently to consolidate the power of the Roman Church as the central repository of the mandate from Jesus through Peter, the singular head of all Christian churches. So his zeal in saving souls and bringing them joy through the Gospel was equaled by his zeal in building a powerful organization capable of withstanding the tempests of the time.
And this is where I had to step back and re-evaluate my initial assessment of Leo.
Who am I, I thought, to question his secular machinations? Who am I to judge him by today’s standards?
What I mean is, in Leo I saw a conniving, albeit compassionate power player, politician, diplomat, and shepherd. For example, when the Vandals sacked Rome in 455, he was instrumental in persuading them not to murder the population, which they were accustomed to doing after a victory. Before that, in 452, he had also persuaded Attila, leader of the Huns, to refrain from sacking the city. Attila and his army withdrew. These are examples of diplomacy of the highest and most significant level.
Could he have saved his flock had he not been such a powerful presence in the secular world?
All of which is a long way to get to today’s Gospel.
Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”
If the Kingdom of God was during Jesus’ time among the Pharisees, then it was certainly among the Romans and the Vandals and the Huns. Therefore, perhaps Leo was helping the church to bear much fruit, as we heard in the Alleluia of today’s Mass. Perhaps he was the lightning needed in the European sky to settle the darkness of constant warfare and terror of that time.
And perhaps Paul’s letter to Philemon can be seen as “God moving in a mysterious way” in Leo’s life as well. Paul is asking his friend Philemon to take back his slave, Onesimus, who is now a Christian and worker in Christ with Paul. What a transformation! How unlikely at the time that a master would see a slave as an equal and a brother in Christ. How unlikely that a bishop would be placed in the position of geopolitical power.
Therefore we do not know when the Son of Man will appear, or where, or how. We only know that the Holy Spirit is at work among the most unlikely, or sometimes most truly likely, people and situations. In today’s world it is harder and harder to trust our fellow men and women. Maybe we are entering the same chaos of 1500 years ago.
And if so, we can trust in the Lord, as it says in today’s Psalm.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
Lord, protect us in this time and for all time. Help us to remember that you are with us now and even to the end of time. Help us accept your love and do our best to pass it on to others. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
The Feast of All Souls ~ The Rev. Dcn. Dollie Wilkinson, OPI
Worshiper Lighting Votive Candle on Altar
Is death the last sleep? No–it is the last and final awakening.
-Sir Walter Scott
We all have lost loved ones, some so early in their life, others who had been with us for a good long while. But for those left behind, the sense of loss can be almost too much to bear. Yet we know in our hearts that we shall see our loved ones again, that we will all be reunited with each other—in our heavenly Father’s kingdom. So until that time, we remember them with love, and offer up prayers for their soul.
Today, November 2nd, we celebrate the Feast of All Souls. On the day after All Saints, the Church reminds us of those who have not yet achieved the goal of their pilgrimage, the Kingdom of Heaven. As part of the communion of saints, they need our prayers. Today’s feast is an opportunity for us to pray in unity for our relatives and friends and for those who have no one to pray for them. All Soul’s Day (sometimes called the “Day of the Dead”) is always November 2 (November 3rd if the 2nd falls on a Sunday).
All Soul’s Day is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away. This comes from the ancient Pagan Festival of the Dead, which celebrated the Pagan belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. Candles in the window would guide the souls back home, and another place was set at the table. Children would come through the village, asking for food to be offered symbolically to the dead, then donated to feed the hungry.
The day purposely follows All Saint’s Day in order to shift the focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory. It is celebrated with Masses and festivities in honor of the dead. While the Feast of All Saints is a day to remember the glories of Heaven and those there, the Feast of All Souls reminds us of our obligations to live holy lives and that there will be purification of the souls of those destined for Heaven.
Upon death, it is believed that souls have not yet been cleansed of sin. Praying for souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin, and allow the souls to enter the pearly gates of heaven. Through prayer and good works, living members of the church may help their departed friends and family. There are three Requiem Masses that are said by the clergy to assist the souls from Purgatory to Heaven: one for the celebrant, one for the departed, and one for the Pope. One such reading for the Mass is included in the Book of Wisdom:
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.”
The traditions of the Feast of All Souls began independently of the Feast of All Saints. The Feast of All Souls owes its beginning to seventh century monks who decided to offer the mass on the day after Pentecost for their deceased community members. In the late tenth century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny chose to move their Mass for their dead to November 2, the day after the Feast of all Saints. This custom spread and in the thirteenth century, Rome put the feast on the calendar of the entire Church. The date remained November 2 so that all in the Communion of the Saints might be celebrated together.
Other customs have arisen over time in the celebration of All Souls Day. The Dominicans in the 15th century instituted a custom of each priest offering three Masses on the Feast of All Souls. Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 approved this practice, and it rapidly spread throughout Spain, Portugal and Latin America. During World War I, Pope Benedict XV, recognizing the number of war dead and the numerous Masses that could not be fulfilled because of destroyed Churches, granted all priests the privilege of offering three Masses on All Souls Day: one for the particular intention, one for all of the faithful departed, and one for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Many more customs are associated with The Day of the Dead celebrations. In the home an altar is made with an offering of food upon it. It is believed that the dead partake of the food in spirit and the living eat it later. The offerings are beautifully arranged with flowers such as marigolds, which are the traditional flower of the dead. There is a candle placed for each dead soul, and they are adorned in some manner. Incense is also often used, and mementos, photos, and other remembrances of the dead also adorn the offerings. Traditional Catholics still honor customs related to the relief of the souls suffering in purgatory. One custom is for persons to pray six Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s and Glory Be’s for the intentions of the Pope in a church, and thereby, receive a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory. This action may be repeated for another soul, by leaving the church and re-entering it to repeat the prayers.
All Soul’s Day lives on today, particularly in Mexico, where All Hallows’ Eve, All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day are collectively observed as “Los Dias de los Muertos” (The Days of the Dead). First and foremost, the Days of the Dead is a time when families fondly remember the deceased. But it is also a time marked by festivities, including spectacular parades of skeletons and ghouls. In one notable tradition, revelers lead a mock funeral procession with a live person inside a coffin.
As we all know, death is never final. We will be reunited with our loved ones. And for those in purgatory, let us pray for their souls to be cleansed, so we shall all live again in our Father’s house.
A prayer for all our departed Brothers and Sisters:
Merciful Father,
hear our prayer
and console us.
As we renew
our faith in Your Son,
whom You raised from the dead,
strengthen our hope
that all our departed brothers and sisters
will share in His resurrection,
who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Invocation for the Souls in Purgatory:
My God,
bestow Thy blessings and Thy mercies
on all persons
and on those souls in Purgatory,
for whom I am in charity, gratitude, or friendship bound
and have the desire to pray.
Amen
Who Are These in White Robes: The Feast of All Saints ~ The Rt. Rev. Michael Beckett, OPI
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints (also called All Saints Day).
All Saints’ Day, All Hallows Day, or Hallowmas is solemnly celebrated on 1 November by many Western Liturgical Churches to honor, literally, all the saints, known and unknown; those individuals who have attained Heaven; all the holy men and women who have lived their lives for God and for his church, who now have attained Beatific vision and their reward of Heaven.
In early Christian history it was usual to solemnize the anniversary of a Martyrs death for the Lord at the place of their martyrdom. Frequently there were multiple martyrs who would’ve suffered and died on the same day which led to multiple commemorations on the same day. Eventually, the numbers of martyrs became so great that it was impossible for a separate day to be assigned to each individually, but the church feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a feast day to commemorate them all on the same day.
The origin of the festival of All Saints celebrated in the West dates to the month of May in the year 609 or 610, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs. In the 730’s Pope Gregory III moved the Feast of All Saints to 1 November when he founded an oratory in St. Peter’s for the relics of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world.”
From our Readings today, we hear of the vision of St. John from the Book of Revelation:
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.”
All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
Who are these nameless saints? Their anonymity teaches us that sainthood is not reached through great achievements or rare acts of bravery. Sainthood comes from simply loving God and doing our best to live our lives in a way consistent with Jesus’ commandment. I would dare say that none of the saints actually set out to be saints. They simply loved God and lived their lives to follow Him.
Revelation goes on to remind us that giving our lives over to God will not protect us or insulate us from hardship. Living in, for, with, and through God, however, will make sure that we can and will endure whatever “great distress” comes our way. In this passage of Revelation, John is speaking specifically of those who have given their lives for their faith. Christians throughout the Middle East are being martyred by forces opposed to Christianity, but in reality, it is very unlikely that any of us will be called upon to sacrifice our lives for our faith.
Our challenge, then, is to live for Christ, rather than to die for Christ. Jesus does ask to lay down our lives for Him. Peter said to the Lord, “I will lay down my life for Your sake,” and he meant it (John 13:37). Has the Lord ever asked you, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?” (John 13:38). It is much easier to die than to lay down your life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling of God. We are not made for the bright-shining moments of life, but we have to walk in the light of them in our everyday ways. For thirty-three years Jesus laid down His life to do the will of His Father. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
If we are true followers of Jesus, we must deliberately and carefully lay down our lives for Him. It is a difficult thing to do, and thank God that it is, for great is our reward. Salvation is easy for us, however, because it cost God so much. But the exhibiting of salvation in our lives is difficult. God saves a person, fills him with the Holy Spirit, and then says, in effect, “Now you work it out in your life, and be faithful to Me, even though the nature of everything around you is to cause you to be unfaithful.” And Jesus says to us, “…I have called you friends….” Remain faithful to your Friend, and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life. We are called to remain faithful, despite the reasons the world gives us to not, despite the “great distresses” in our lives.
Who are these dressed in white robes? It is my prayer to be counted among them. What about you?
Moved By Mercy – 31st Sunday in Kingdomtide ~ Br. Michael Marshall, Novice
There is a song by Matthew West titled, “Moved By Mercy” in which some lyrics are applicable to today’s readings. In the song, Matthew West coveys that there is a dialogue between a young woman and Jesus, and he tells her that things of the past no longer have to haunt her because she has reached out and asked for mercy. Her plea is stated as follows:
“Take me far away now
From this broken place now
Somewhere they can’t hurt me
I wanna be moved by mercy
Jesus, I can’t see You
I just know I need You
Help me start a new life
Let my heart be moved by mercy.”
Jesus responds by saying:
All the hurt that you hide behind that door
I’m not gonna let it hurt you anymore.
And so later in the song the woman says:
“For so long I felt so unworthy.”
Jesus again responds with:
“I’m the one who began a good work in you
And I’m the one who is gonna see it through,
I’ll see you through.”
As well as:
“But in My arms all your shame is moved by mercy
So here I stand, a child undeserving
Take My hand and let your heart
Be moved by mercy.”
Lyrics: Matthew West
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
We see in the Reading from the Book of Wisdom that the author writes:
“But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things! Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!”
And we see in the Gospel that Jesus looks up at Zacchaeus because he wants to establish a relationship while staying in his home. Zacchaeus is a tax collector, who the town’s people see as a sinful person. Even though it is not explicitly stated in the Gospel Reading, we understand that this relationship has more to do with ministry rather than needing a place to stay while in Jericho. As the town’s people are upset because Jesus wants to stay in Zacchaeus’ home, Zacchaeus understands this purpose; which again is not explicitly stated. Zacchaeus then asks for mercy for what he has committed against God and toward the town’s people by saying:
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus shows mercy toward Zacchaeus by saying: “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
How do the story of the young woman and the Readings apply to us??? Well, it is quite simple and straightforward! Unlike Jesus, we were born into the world not free of sin. That does not mean we sin the minute we come out of our mother’s womb, but rather we sometimes get caught up in things of this world which go against God. We follow the bad example of others, even if we know it is wrong. That is simply part of being human, as much as our baptism has washed away our sins. But when we do sin, we go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to ask for forgiveness. But ultimately what this sermon is about is how we need to truly change our ways and not just ask for mercy, but to follow through with living a pure and holy life after asking for mercy. Just because we ask for mercy, and receive it, does not mean we can go on living with the mentality of “Well, God will forgive me” and return to our old ways. Because we asked for mercy, and we have been granted that mercy, we must strive to not turn back. The priest even says to us, “Your sins have been pardoned, and therefore go forth and sin no more.”
Father, when we ask for mercy, may we truly remember to truly live a holy and pure life because we asked for the mercy. This we ask through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
What’s Your Passion? The Feast of Sts Simon and Jude ~ The Rev. Lady Sherwood, OPI
Today’s Holy Gospel reading : LK 6:12-16
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Our Lord Jesus Christ spent all night in prayer to his Father as he knew he was about to undertake the vast task of choosing the Apostles who would be the ones to deliver his Holy Word to the world and this was obviously far from an easy task. Today, we come together to celebrate the Feast day of two of these Apostles that our Lord chose, namely that of St. Simon (called the Zealot) and of St. Judas (the son of James who we also call St. Jude). The disciples were guaranteed to fall out with each other because they were such different characters.
Although the Holy scriptures don’t really tell us about Simon and Jude, we should remember that it does say quite a lot about the disciples as a group, and that includes Simon and Jude. So we can say that Jesus chose them to be his disciples after a night in prayer and they responded readily, allowing their lives to be turned upside down; they lived with Jesus for three years; they saw the miracles; they heard his teaching; they had their moments of confusion and their moments of wonder; they fled when Jesus was arrested; they were present in the upper room when he revealed himself as risen from the dead; they saw him ascend into heaven; they were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; they faced persecution from the religious authorities; they became leaders in the early church in Jerusalem.
Today’s gospel scripture had some difficult things to say about what the disciples were to face as a result of their love of Jesus: they would be hated and they would be persecuted for his sake. That was certainly true of Simon and John. Jesus describes them in the gospel as people who were to testify in the power of the Holy Spirit because were with him from the beginning of his public ministry.
Tradition tells us that both Simon and Jude ended up in Persia where they were martyred around AD 65, Simon (gruesomely) was sawn in two.
So what are we passionate about within our lives? Most of us want to be faithful to God day by day and who have things about which we are passionate. Our faith should be our one and main passion. In the midst of ordinary life, what is God calling us to do with our passions? Are we willing to follow Simon and Jude in forsaking everything for the sake of the gospel? That affects decisions about our whole lives: careers, money, time. Students and young people: what are we going to do with our lives? What gifts and passions has God given to each of us that we can use to proclaim the gospel? I’m a strong believer that God works with rather than against our gifts, so if we have skills and interests these should be used to serve God. But God opens up all sorts of unexpected doors, as he did for Simon and Jude who probably never dreamed of going beyond their local area. So we should ask ourselves how we can offer our gifts and passions to God in his service. For those of us who have made decisions that shape our lives, are we open to God asking us, even late in life, to do something new?
Following his death, St. Jude’s body was brought to Rome and left in a crypt in St. Peter’s Basilica. Today his bones can be found in the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica under the main altar of St. Joseph in a tomb he shares with the remains of the apostle Simon the Zealot.
Pilgrims came to St. Jude’s grave to pray and many reported a powerful intercession, leading to the title, “The Saint for the Hopeless and the Despaired.” Two Saints, St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Bernard, had visions from God asking them to accept St. Jude as “The Patron Saint of the Impossible.”
Humble Grace ~ The Rev. Dcn. Dollie Wilkinson, OPI
As I read through this week’s Bible readings, I am reminded of an old saying my Grandmother would quote, “The meek shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). In studying the following passages, we are reminded that “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). Those whom He calls, will not only be saved, but shall also carry His message to the rest of the people, for in their meekness and humbleness, they shall be rewarded. In reading Paul’s letter to Timothy hints at this fact. That he has endured persecutions of all kinds that have generated wear and tear on his body, mind and soul, traipsing all over the Roman world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul has had many encounters defending the gospel but he realizes that the race was all worth it. He says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
“As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Though Paul did everything required of him, all for the glory of Jesus Christ, we are cautioned by the following parable to guard ourselves against boastfulness.
Luke 18:9-14
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” “
We are reminded here that it is not they who seemingly flaunt their righteousness that God calls, but those who may at first appear to be the least deserving of us to receive God’s blessing and grace. “ Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. “ (Joel 2:28-29).
In the parable as told in Luke, we are cautioned to always remember that though we may follow the rules set down by man, or by a certain Church, or even our local pastor, it is no guarantee that we will have a place in Heaven. It is what is truly in our heart, whether we be saint or sinner, prostitute or preacher, homeless vagrant or humble Sister, that assures us the blessings and grace of our loving Father.
Do It Anyway: The Feast of St. Luke ~ Br. Michael Marshall, Novice
There are moments in our lives when our boss entrusts us with a new task which has not been part of our ordinary job duties. Because this task is new to us, it may seem overwhelming at first and we just want to throw our hands up in the air and tell our boss it cannot be done. And there may be times when we demand recognition for taking on the task and expect praise for putting effort into actually accomplishing what was asked of us; and when we do not receive recognition and praise, it leaves us feeling discouraged. But it is important to press on and do our jobs well regardless because that is our responsibility. It might sound a little strange, but being and living as a fully active Christian is much like our work environment. We can see this being the case in early Christianity through the Readings for today.
We see in the Gospel, that Jesus is commissioning his disciples to go out and preach the Good News. Jesus’ instructions indicate that the task will not be easy, and that not everyone will be receptive of the message; yet still put forth the effort at all cost, giving adequate attention to each household. Imaging the disciples thinking about what has just been entrusted to them; some might have been excited, while others might have felt a little hesitant. Yet they all did it!
In Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, we read about Paul’s lamenting of feeling abandoned by his peers, other than Luke, and pleading to Timothy to bring other disciples for the mission to the Gentiles. Paul also asks Timothy to bring a cloak and papyrus rolls – important items to continue to carry out the mission entrusted to the disciples. As Paul continues to write to Timothy, he states that he has not thrown his hands up in the air, and knows he has been able to press on to fulfill the mission because of the guidance of the Lord.
So… How does this apply to us today??? Scripture is not pertinent to only a specific period in time, but rather is very relevant for ALL generations. Jesus’ Commissioning was not only for his direct disciples, but is also directed toward us. We may not be walking on foot from town to town and entering houses like the early Christian disciples did, but we are to reach out and preach the Good News. But, how do we do this if we do not enter a household??? This task is as simple as the wonderful saying by Saint Francis of Assisi – “Preach the Gospel always, when necessary use words.” It is as simple as loving our neighbor speak or paying it forward at a restaurant, but we must never be shy to speak of Jesus when it deems necessary. There are instances in which we want to mind our “P’s and Q’s” because we might think it is not our place to remind someone of WWJD, BUT sometimes we have to verbally preach! It might fall upon deaf ears, yet it just might also hit home with some people, so we need to keep pressing on and do our job as our boss has asked of us.
Father, may we understand that we have been asked of a great task as followers of Jesus, regardless of how difficult the task is. He has commissioned us, just as he commissioned his disciples, to preach the Good News. Let us answer this call. This we ask through Christ, Our Lord. Amen!
The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary ~ Mark Patrick, Aspirant
Today the Church honors the Blessed Mother of Our Lord under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary. This great feast, up until the 16th century, was a day to honor Our Lady of Victory. The feast was changed to Our Lady of the Rosary by Pope St. Pius V following a naval victory which helped to secure Europe against the invasion of the Muslim Turks. Pius attributed that great victory of the “Catholic Powers” – Genoa, Spain, and the Papal States – to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was invoked that day by a great campaign across the whole of Europe to pray the Rosary for the cause. Crew members on more than 200 ships prayed the Rosary to prepare for the battle, and Christians across the European continent joined in. The significance of the title of Our Lady of the Rosary is a very important one, as it reminds us Christians of the strength and great blessing we are given in the recitation of the Rosary. It reminds us that Our Lady is ever interceding on our behalf to her Son. That she is also known as Our Lady of Victory is also important for us, as it reminds us that through her intercession, Our Lady helps us to have victory over the battles of our lives.
The Rosary is especially important to us as Dominicans. Tradition holds that, in the year 1214 Saint Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers, was in anguish because he was failing in his attempt to convert the Albigensian Cathar heretics. St. Dominic attributed this to the deepness and gravity of sinfulness of the heretics and the poor example of Catholics. He went alone in to the forest and wept and prayed continuously for three days to appease the anger of Almighty God. He flogged his body and scourged his flesh. From the fasting, pain, and exhaustion, he passed in to a coma.
Dominic experienced an apparition of Blessed Mother Mary while in the coma, which forever links Saint Dominic and the Rosary. The Immaculate Mary with three angels appeared and asked St. Dominic, “Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?” Dominic’s response was Blessed Mary knew better than he because she is a part of our salvation.
Mary responded, “I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been the Angelic Psalter* which is the foundation stone of the New Testament. Therefore if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter.”
Shortly after this apparition he preached the Holy Rosary to the unconverted Albigenisan heretics. To modify the Paternoster (150 Our Father’s) and in compliance with the instruction in the apparition, the design of the Saint Dominic Rosary came in to being. He set apart fifteen mysteries of the rosary, grouped them in to three sets of five decades each.
In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus is confronted by the crowd who said that he was casting out demons by demonic works. Jesus responds by saying “If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” He states that one who is strong and well prepared can guard his own house, and he then goes on to tell a parable, a story to his disciples, about the importance of remaining strong against attack and of maintaining strength of heart and of faith, in order to resist things that are evil. He says that when an unclean spirit is cast out, it comes back ever stronger than before, and even brings friends with it, “and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
How true it is that sometimes we tend to feel as though just when we overcome some ordeal, whether it be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, and we are relieved when it is over, and we let down our guard, that something yet worse and yet stronger over us takes hold and starts to wreak its own havoc within us or in our life situation. We become unprepared because we have stopped praying, stopped seeking the will of God, stopped listening to His Word and direction for our lives.
What a great resource that we have in the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Victory to strengthen us, to intercede for us on our behalf. We have this blessing in the prayer of the Rosary, an invaluable tool and weapon in our fight against evil in the world and beyond it. When I was a Roman Catholic seminarian, a gentleman once told us seminarians as we were about to pray the Rosary, “Gentleman, get out your weapons. It’s time to pray the Rosary.” The fight we fight is truly spiritual, and the Rosary and our Blessed Mother help to give us the strength to fight without weakness.
Let us trust in the Lord, and talk to Our Mother, who leads us to her Son. Let us allow her to pray for our strength, that our spiritual armor might be built up for the building up of the Kingdom of God, and that we might fight the assault of the enemy. Amen.
Living the Life of Faith ~ The Rev. Lady Sherwood, OPI
Gospel reading: Luke 17:5-10
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the disciples asking Jesus to increase their faith. I am sure most of us at some point in our lives have asked similarly.
If I had only more faith, we say if things are difficult in our lives. We say things such as, “if only I had more faith, maybe that person wouldn’t have got Ill, or wouldn’t have died” or “if I had more faith, I wouldn’t suffer like this or have that in my life, or I would be a better person”. I admit, there have been times when I have thought exactly as the disciples did in today’s Gospel reading.
However, living by faith is not something that comes in sizes or in measurable quantities. It is not a bargaining chip that we can use to gain favour or our own personal wants from God.
Faith is a true loving relationship that we have with Our Lord and is something which we must live fully each and every day of our lives. Living a faithful life does not mean that we will not suffer hardships and pain within our lives. The righteous are not exempt from suffering, just because a person may be ill or poor does not make them a sinner. We must not confuse wealth with approval of God or illness with sin (see Matt 9:21=22 and Jn 9:2=3).
It is living as one with God in all our daily words and deeds and doing it to our utmost with all that we are. Living a faithful life doesn’t even mean that we have to always agree with everything that our Lord tells us, but that out of love we learn to live as one to the best of our ability.
A good example is if we look at a good marriage or partnership, the two out of love for each other, live as one, they are faithful to each other in all things even if they may not always agree with each other.
Living a faithful life, is living to the best of our ability as Our Lord would live, we are all one in Christ and should strive to live this fully within our daily lives.
It is Loving each other, accepting each other and forgiving each other. It is walking with each other on this path of life and helping our brothers and sisters who stumble along the way.
We know that God will only do what is good for us as his children and that he has plans only for our good as the following scriptures clearly tell us:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).
For I know the plans I have for you” declares the LORD, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer 29:11).
A true example of living the life of faith can clearly be seen in the story of Job. The story of the life of Job is one of faith, endurance, and of patience winning out against amazing odds.
Job was subjected to three tests=the first was to accept without sinning, the loss of his possessions and offspring (Job 1:6=22). The second was to endure the destruction of his health without blaming anything on God (Job 2:1=10). The third test was to endure false accusation. Most people would respond to the trials of Job by blaming these evils on God’s inaction, but Job showed humility in the sight of God. He tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell down and worshipped God and throughout all his trials Job never resorted to sinning against God. Job’s life and his faith is an excellent example to all of us as Christians.
Thank You, Lord, for the measure of faith You have given me. I refuse to be moved by outward circumstances, but only by what Your Word says. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and I will not lean upon my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Thank You for saving me! Ephesians 2:8 says, “it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favour) that you are saved (delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God…”. All of the precious gifts You have given me: salvation, healing, prosperity, etc., are connected to my faith, and it’s impossible to please You without it. I will keep Your commandments, walk in love, stay in the Word and live by faith!
Rich Man, Poor Man~ The Rev. Deacon Dollie Wilkinson, OPI
When I was younger, living in a small town in West Virginia, we were considered poor. Like most of my friends’ parents, even though my Mom and Dad worked full time, we lived paycheck to paycheck. This meant that usually the money ran out before the end of the month. Though our bills were usually paid, there were some months that maybe the electric bill wasn’t paid, or we would get a cut off notice for the water. I remember many months where we would make an impromptu visit to the Salvation Army pantry, to pick up canned goods, dried beans, and if we were lucky, a canned ham. Being a child, and because most of my closest friends’ parents, or grandparents, also did this, I never thought much of it. It was only when I got older, going to junior high school, then high school, that I realized not everyone lived this way. I just assumed everyone wore hand-me-downs, and ate left-overs more than one day a week.
Now as an adult, I realize how poor we were. Though we didn’t have much money, we had plenty of things money couldn’t buy – family, love, contentment, joy, fun, friendship. But of course being a child, I did envy those children who would come back from Christmas break, bragging about the presents they got or where they spent their holiday vacation. When my daughters were growing up, I tried to give them all the material things I lacked as a child – newest, most popular toy, latest fashion in clothes, and any food stuff or snacks they wanted. While also providing them with a loving and safe home, I wished to make sure they never felt deprived, that they never went hungry, that they never wanted for anything (within reason and budget, of course). Now that they are adults, with good paying jobs, they can provide for themselves.
But as adults, we sometimes are like children – so we still want the newest, most popular toy, latest fashion in clothes, and any food stuff or snacks we crave. There isn’t anything wrong with this, as long as we understand that there must be a limit to our material possessions. That just like a child who understands limits, what he or she can or cannot do, or can or cannot have. As adults, especially as children of God, we must recognize that material wealth does have its limits. And that the value that we put on material possessions will hinder us from leading a life of goodness and faith. This is what we are cautioned about in 1 Timothy 6:6-19:
“Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time–he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.”
In Timothy, we are not told to always go around and be poor. Rather we are cautioned that if we have wealth, if we have a comfortable life with plenty of food on the table, clothed in the latest fashion, or surrounded by nice things, to not be boastful, To share with others as we can, to also “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness”. While having nice things is not a sin, worshiping these things above God is. So we must use these material blessings from our heavenly Father to help others, to do good works. How do we do that? Volunteer your time in a soup kitchen, or animal shelter. Donate money to help orphanages overseas, or a local church charity. Offer to cut your neighbors grass, or sit with an elderly friend. Though you may not have wealth, you can still be rich. For as long as you do good works, it is in this richness that you “ may take hold of the life that really is life.”
The Order of Preachers, Independent 
You must be logged in to post a comment.