Jacob's Ladder

After his dream,Jacob awoke and exclaimed,"Truly ,the Lord is in this spot,although I did not know it!" The miraculous ladder in his dream reunited the earth with the Devine. You can read about the dramatic story of Jacob's life and faith in Genesis 27:41-28:22

The Ram

Today's ornament is the Ram provided to Abraham in place of his son Isaac. You can read about Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19

Thanksgiving Proclamation Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

Go. Washington!

Thursday, November 17 Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (Memorial)

REVELATION 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you 
purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”

PSALM 149

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God. or R. Alleluia.
Sing to the Lord a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R. 
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory. R. 
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.  R.

LUKE 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

He saw the city and wept over it. (Luke 19:41) 

“Jesus, you are overflowing with compassion! You saw that ‘what makes for peace’ was hidden from the eyes of your people, and you wept over them (Luke 19:42). It made you suffer, but you did not turn away. You did not condemn. You wept!

“Thank you, Lord, that you are not aloof from us. When we separate ourselves from you, it stirs your compassion and sorrow, not your judgment. You did not come to condemn us, but to save us. And when we miss out on that, when our eyes are blinded, you suffer with us. When we cut ourselves off from your grace, you weep. You enter into the misery we’re bringing on ourselves.

“Even when we suffer physically, when we die, you weep over us. Just as you wept over your friend Lazarus, your heart is stirred whenever we hurt. You are our brother, and you long for the best for us.

“Thank you, Lord, that your love for us produces so much more than sympathy! You took on our humanity, and you share all our human emotions. You weep with us, but you also rejoice with us. In our victories, no matter how small, you rejoice. When the disciples returned from their missionary trip, you rejoiced to see how the Father worked through them. When the couple was married in Cana, you celebrated with them. When you see us reach out to someone in need, you smile.

“Jesus, help me to see your tears when I am the one who has separated myself from you. Move my heart to repentance by the compassion and love in your eyes. Draw me to you, and make me whole again. Let me rejoice in your lavish tenderness.

“Give me your heart, Lord! Just as you are close to each of us, help me not to hold myself aloof from my brothers and sisters. Even if they seem to be cutting themselves off from you, stir my compassion. Help me see over everything else that they are my brothers and sisters, that we are all children of the same Father in heaven. Help me to suffer with them and rejoice with them, to welcome them and accompany them, just as you do. 

“Jesus, give me a heart like yours—a heart of compassion and solidarity.”

Tuesday, November 15 Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial)

REVELATION 3:1-6, 14-22

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this:

“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.

“‘The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.

“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:

“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.

“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

LUKE 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “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 said to him, “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.”

Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house. (Luke 19:5)

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? That’s a difficult question! Today’s Gospel poses a similar dilemma. Who saw whom first, Zacchaeus or Jesus?

Maybe it was Zacchaeus. After all, he hoisted himself into a sycamore tree so that he could catch a glimpse of the Lord. Then again, maybe it was Jesus. He seemed to know exactly where Zacchaeus was, and he readily called him by name and invited himself over for dinner. So who saw whom first? 

We may never know. But we do have a good idea of what each person saw. Zacchaeus saw a holy man, and he dared to hope that Jesus could bring him peace.

Jesus looked into Zacchaeus’ heart and saw his eagerness and curiosity. He saw his desire to grow closer to God. Of course, he saw his sin, but that didn’t stop him. He loved everything else he saw so much that he answered Zacchaeus’ silent prayer and called him.

Commenting on this passage, St. Augustine wrote, “The Lord, who had already welcomed Zacchaeus in his heart, was now ready to be welcomed by him into his home.” Before Zacchaeus had even thought about climbing that tree, Jesus was already at work in him. 

In the same way, Jesus saw you before you woke up this morning. He loved what he saw, and he began working in your heart. While you slept, he was giving you the grace you’ll need today.

Jesus came “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). To seek out Zacchaeus, he provided the grace—the curiosity, the longing, and the hunger for God—that would get him up that tree. He is seeking you today too.

Do you feel a nudge to pray? To read Scripture or go to Mass? To turn away from a tempting situation? Those promptings come from the Lord. He is nudging you every day, trying to get your attention. Even when you are oblivious or resistant, he keeps working to bring you back. 

Jesus has already welcomed you into his heart. Now he wants you to welcome him into yours. Are you ready to receive him? Follow those “nudges,” and he will come in.

“Jesus, you see my heart and know what this day holds. Help me to stay close to you.”

Word Among Us

Friday, November 11 Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop (Memorial)

2 JOHN 4-9

[Chosen Lady:] I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. 

PSALM 119

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord. R. 
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart. R. 
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands. R. 
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you. R. 
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words. R. 
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.  R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand. Lk 21:28
Alleluia, alleluia.

LUKE 17:26-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

MEDITATION

Let us love one another. (2 John 5)

Did you notice that John says, “Let us love one another” (2 John 5)? He includes himself in the exhortation, telling us that everyone is called to love. And actions speak louder than words. It’s not enough to just say, “I love you.” You need to actually do it.

The author of 2 John was probably not John the apostle, but another John, a presbyter, or elder, in a local church. He likely knew some of the people who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry—maybe even some of the apostles. John is writing out of concern for the brothers and sisters in his church. He rejoiced like a proud parent that they were “walking in the truth” and urged them to “love one another” (2 John 4, 5).

Why did John focus on these concerns? Some believers had stirred up confusion about whether Jesus had really been fully human. Perhaps, they thought, he was just pretending to be a man. As a result, many people were caught up in controversy and were missing the heart of the matter: God loves our humanness so much that he sent his Son to take on our actual flesh and blood. He wanted to be completely human: one of us so that he could be one with us.

If God has so much love for us human beings, then how could the people in John’s church think they didn’t have to love each other—and in practice, not just in theory? This was John’s 

point. What we do matters. How we love matters. Sometimes it matters more than what we say we believe.

So when we attend Mass faithfully but speak harshly to a family member at home, we are missing something. Our love for one another is a reflection of our love for God. As John wrote, love is the most important way we can live out our faith.

God loves everyone and wants his love to flow out from you and into your relationships. So stop today, and look at the people around you. Ask God to show you one brother or sister that he wants you to love in a concrete way. Then spend time with them: look them in the eye, listen to their concerns, and care for them with the love that you have received from God.  

“Jesus, help me to show your love today.”

Word Among Us

November 10th,2016 Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 494

Reading 1 

PHLM 7-20

Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm PS 146:7, 8-9A, 9BC-10

R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 15:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:20-25

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.”

Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.
But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

USNCCB

Monday, November 7 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

TITUS 1:1-9

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. 

PSALM 24

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. R. 
Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. R. 
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.  R.

LUKE 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”

And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed . . . (Luke 17:6)

“I didn’t think I was smart enough to go to college, but my teachers saw things in me that I couldn’t see. They helped me discover that I really can succeed!” 

Like the young man who made this remark, many of us can identify some achievement that we owe to the encouragement of a friend, spiritual advisor, or some other cheerleader. People like these help us see our potential; they push us to reach beyond our limited vision and accomplish what we thought was impossible. 

That’s what Jesus is doing for the apostles in today’s Gospel. He has just told them to forgive seven times a day—constantly. They respond to this seemingly impossible instruction with willingness and alarm: “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). It’s as if they’re saying, “We know we have some faith, but it’s far too small! Give us a greater ability to live according to what we believe.” 

How does Jesus answer? He tells them not to fixate on how small or inadequate their faith feels. He tells them that though their faith may be just “the size of a mustard seed,” they have sufficient faith to do everything he asks, even if it seems impossible (Luke 17:6).

Of course, Jesus wants us to keep growing in faith too. But how does that happen? By using it! The “small” faith that has already been planted in us has powerful potential. But in order to unleash all that potential, we have to act on it, just as Jesus’ first disciples learned to do. Remember how he sent them out to announce the kingdom, cure the sick, and expel demons? They went equipped only with their “small” faith and “returned rejoicing”—and maybe a little surprised—at the marvels they had worked in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17).

What about you? God has given you a mission. Is he calling you to do something that feels beyond your level of faith? Repair a long-broken relationship? Pray with someone for healing, and expect a miracle? Don’t sell God—or yourself—short! God can use you just as he used the disciples “to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Take it one step of faith at a time, and watch what happens. 

“Jesus, I want to exercise the faith you have given me. Today I will move forward by ______.”

Sunday, November 6 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 MACCABEES 7:1-2, 9-14

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law. One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: “What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.” 

At the point of death he said: “You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying.” 

After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words: “It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again.” Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man’s courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing. 

After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. When he was near death, he said, “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.” 

PSALM 17

R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O Lord, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. R. 
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word. R. 
Keep me as the apple of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;

on waking I shall be content in your presence.  R.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:16–3:5

Brothers and sisters: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead;
to him be glory and power, forever and ever. Rev 1:5a,6b
Alleluia, alleluia

LUKE 20:27-38 (OR LUKE 20:27, 34-38)

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out ‘Lord,’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

In the story of Cain and Abel, before Cain goes forward with his plan to kill his brother, God warns him not to let this evil desire have mastery over him (Genesis 4:7). Cain didn’t have to give in to this temptation. God was right there, ready to help him and strengthen him. Sadly, we know what happened.

When we think about sin, we usually think about our personal sins. We don’t often think of the temptations that are behind our choices to commit sins. But temptation is a very effective tool that the devil wields against us, and we need to be on guard against it.

Sometimes, temptation can feel like an insistent hammering that beats us into submission. Over and over again, the evil one whispers lies to us. He tempts us by telling us that there is nothing wrong with violating God’s commands. If we give an opening to these sinful suggestions, they will sway us to commit sins. 

Other times, Satan uses a more subtle technique. He tells us that we have too much work to do, too many errands to run, and too many important responsibilities. By the end of the day, we’re just too tired or too distracted to spend time with the Lord. Consequently, without even knowing it, we have become spiritually weak. We have let our guard down and have become more vulnerable to the devil’s temptations. 

But we are a new creation in Christ! We don’t have to give in to temptation. We don’t have to follow in Cain’s footsteps. The secret is to pray and ask Jesus for his spiritual strength to help us say no to temptation. He is a generous God, and he will give us the grace we need to resist.

May we never again let a day go by without spending time with Jesus and asking him for heavenly strength.

“Lord, I need you today. Come and strengthen me against temptation.”

November 5th - Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary

PHILIPPIANS 4:10-19

Brothers and sisters: I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

PSALM 112

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed. R. 
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. R. 
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory. R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich. 2 Cor 8:9
Alleluia, alleluia.

LUKE 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

I have learned the secret of . . . living in abundance and of being in need. (Philippians 4:12)

Money. It’s a topic that can really make us anxious. We want to be detached, but money touches so many parts of our lives and influences us even in subtle ways that being detached is next to impossible. We wonder: “Does God want me to prosper financially? Am I giving enough to the poor? How can I be responsible in providing for my retirement or children? Should I purchase this new gadget?” So many questions! It can be hard to know how to look at our finances.

St. Paul had it right. He said he knew a “secret”—how to be satisfied no matter what his circumstances. The key to that secret was what he loved. It’s like Jesus said: “No servant can serve two masters. . . . You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). That’s why Paul praised the Philippians for their generous donations to the impoverished church in Jerusalem. It showed that they loved Jesus and his people enough to give from the heart. 

So how do we adjust our view of money? One practical idea is to evaluate how we are doing with the call to live simply. Here are some possibilities:

• Take a look at your possessions. How many things have not been used in the past year or two? Can you give some of them away to a worthy charity?

• If you’re planning to make a large purchase, like a car, home, or major appliance, consider what you really need. Try not to buy something far beyond your actual needs.

• If you give to charity, could you economize in your budget so that you could give maybe an extra 1 percent this year?

You can make the choice to live just a little bit more simply today than you did yesterday! It doesn’t have to be a dramatic change, like St. Francis giving away all he owned. But as you take each little step to simplify your life, you’ll give God the opportunity to show you he’s trustworthy and will take care of you.

“Jesus, I want to love you first and foremost. Help me not to be mastered by money!”

November 4th, 2016

.PHILIPPIANS 3:17–4:1

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved. 

PSALM 122

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the Lord.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem. R. 
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord. R. 
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.  R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him. 1 Jn 2:5
Alleluia, alleluia.

LUKE 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.

MEDITATION

He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified Body. (Philippians 3:21)

Rummaging through your father’s drawer—the one filled with old keepsakes—you discover an unfamiliar photograph. It’s he as a teenager, grinning. He’s standing on a dock, poised to leap into a serene lake. The photographer must have managed to capture his attention the instant before the plunge. It’s hard to peel your eyes away from his vibrant young face.

Photos of our parents in their youth can be riveting. We recognize them because their core features remain—but still, how different they look! Gazing into their eyes in an old snapshot, it’s like we’re meeting them for the first time.

If it’s this much fun to see our parents young, can you imagine how it would feel to see ourselves as we will be, when our lowly bodies are glorified, and we’re changed into the very image of Jesus Christ? “Thrilling” is probably a good guess. Paul must have felt this excitement as he wrote to the believers in Philippi. Surely, they would have also been delighted to consider how God’s power would, one day, complete their work of transformation.

Take a few moments right now to envision this heavenly snapshot. See the you that will inhabit eternity: your eyes glimmer with light reflected from the Son of God. You are grinning widely because you have been tasting the eternal fruit of years spent trying to follow the Lord. Every burden has been lifted. Every inner hurt has been healed. Your battle against sin is forever won. God’s unique imprint of his own personality within yours has, at last, been fully revealed. 

Isn’t it encouraging to recognize this person is you? It’s the you that even right now, the Spirit is working to uncover. Through the storms, trials, stretching, and monotonies of life, the old version of you is peeling away, and Christ in you, the hope of glory, is being revealed. God won’t stop until his transforming work is finished.

If this little exercise is stirring up hunger for a spiritual breakthrough of some sort, carry it to the Lord in your prayer. Ask him to help you work on one specific area. And be on the lookout for evidence of the changes taking place.

“Lord, take me! Melt me, mold me, and use me."

Word Among Us.

November 3rd 2016

PHILIPPIANS 3:3-8A

Brothers and sisters: We are the circumcision, we who worship through the Spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh, although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh.

If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I. Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.

But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

PSALM 105

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord. or R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! R. 
Look to the Lord in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. R. 
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the Lord, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.  R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Mt 11:28
Alleluia, alleluia.

LUKE 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

MEDITATION

Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep. (Luke 15:6)

We’ve all experienced losing something. Sometimes a quick prayer to St. Anthony is all it takes to lay our hands on a misplaced book or a set of keys. And when we find it, we are naturally both happy and relieved.

But what about losing touch with a friend or relative? Perhaps the estrangement was sudden, the result of something hurtful we did or experienced. Perhaps it was inadvertent—we both got busy and lost track of each other. In either case, we can’t help wondering, “Could I have prevented this? Can I fix it?” Maybe we don’t have anything in common anymore. Has she passed away, and I didn’t hear about it? We may even make a few attempts to do an Internet search. But over time, we realize that this lost relationship probably won’t be found, and so we give up.

This is not how Jesus acts. He never tires of searching for us.Whether someone has been gone for years or only a few minutes, Jesus keeps on looking and never gives up. And when he does find that person, he is thrilled to reconnect with them again. There is no recrimination, no mistrust or hesitancy. There is only an outpouring of joy and love.

Think about the joy you feel when you are reunited with a long-lost friend. After the first awkward moments, you may pick up right where you left off, swapping stories and filling in the details of the intervening years. You may need to share words of explanation or forgiveness, but your relationship is stronger than ever. Both of you will probably wonder why it took so long. 

Isn’t that the way it is with Jesus? It may feel awkward at first, especially if our reunion takes place in the confessional. But whether our reunion is big or small—whether the distance between us was over leaving the Church or a nagging sin—it doesn’t matter to him. He’s just glad to have you back! He has searched high and low, and now he has found you. He has forgiven you for wandering, and all he wants is to renew your friendship once more. So come to him every day, and let him rejoice over you. 

“Jesus, thank you for patiently, persistently searching for me. Thank you for bringing me back to you.”

Word Among Us.

November 2nd, 2016 "All Souls Day"

1st Reading

WISDOM 3:1-9

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.

Responsorial Psalm

PSALM 23

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. R. 
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage. R. 
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. R. 
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.  R.

2nd Reading

ROMANS 5:5-11 (OR ROMANS 6:3-9)

Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, you who are blessed by my Father;
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Mt 25:34
Alleluia, alleluia.

The Gospel Reading

JOHN 6:37-40 

Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

MEDITATION

God proves his love for us. (Romans 5:8)

Numerous studies have shown that babies raised in environments like crowded orphanages, where there is very little affirmation or human interaction, can suffer lasting emotional and psychological damage. These studies prove a basic truth of our faith: we are made for love. When we know we are loved, we are more peaceful and confident. We feel valued and begin to understand our worth.

This is why knowing and receiving God’s love are fundamental. They help us see how precious and valuable we are to him. They give us the confidence we need to live in this world.

How can we see God’s love for us? Here are a few ways:

• Listen to the Scriptures. In today’s second reading, St. Paul makes it clear: he does not want anyone to doubt that God’s whole desire is for us to be with him, now and for eternity. Why else would he send his Son to die for our sins? Why else would he pour his Holy Spirit into our hearts?

• Prayerfully receive the Eucharist. Each time we receive Communion, we receive God’s love. Each time we hear “the Body of Christ” and say “Amen,” we are agreeing: God is still laying down his life for us out of love.

• Sharpen your eyes of faith. As you start paying attention, you’ll begin to see more evidence of God’s love in your everyday life. You might recognize how he guided you through a complicated decision. You might see that he helped you arrive somewhere at just the right time. He is intimately involved in the details of your life because he loves you.

You are loved by God—never forget that! So practice cultivating your spiritual perception. Every day, ask for another glimpse of his love. Let it give you the confidence and peace of a treasured child, a beloved friend. 

The more convinced you are of God’s love, the more confidence you can have for your loved ones who have gone before you. On this All Souls Day, let’s ask the Lord to bless all of them. Let’s ask him to continue to purify them and bring them fully into his presence. 

“Lord, show me your love. You are the reason for my hope!”

Where is that in the Bible

Recently I was sitting in a lunch room and was asked what the Church thought about homosexuality. I was dumbfounded and angry at myself at the same time. Here I was a convert to the church for over 20 years and didn't know the answer to this question. Especially as much as this topic has been in he news lately. Why do we do,say and believe these things and where is it found in the Bible?

I went home and started researching this question, Where is that in the Bible? When I searched Amazon I came across Patrick Madrids book, "Where is that in the Bible?". This book has many answers in it that when non-Catholics start quoting Bible verses to "prove" that Catholic teachings are not Biblical, this powerful Bible based explanation and defense of the Catholic Faith can answer it for you! In this book, the veteran apologist and best selling author gives you simple ways to show you how to deflate the standard objections to Catholicism -- and how to use scripture to bring people into or back into the church. I read the book and it will stay in reach just I need it. Its available on Amazon.com and it is available in print and kindle.

God Bless You!
Randy