Hard Work

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time.

We have many fears. Such fears usually involve money. This fear of not having enough money usually causes us to lose our love for one another and weakens our relationship with God. It is however at that moment we need love to drive “out fear because fear has to do with punishment.” When we notice ourselves drifting away because of financial troubles then we must work hard to strength those relationships with one another and with God because it’s by love that we are to rid ourselves of fear.

Mother’s Day

Mother’s day: a day of honoring our mothers. Now a days when some mothers are literary killing there young it seems hard to find a good example of motherhood. But as we all know God gave us the perfect example of a mother, in His Mother, Mary. On the cross, When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-27).

Honoring Our Mother is precisely what the Catholic Church has been doing for 2000 years, in honoring Mary the Mother of all Christians. Many Catholics are criticized for honoring Mary, but wrongfully so. If one was to ask what would Jesus do? Or better yet what did Jesus do? The answer is He observed the 4th commandment like any good Jew and honored His Mother. Today we have the privilege to honor our mother, Mary.

1/27/09 “brother, and sister, and mother.”

“Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” 

Mark 3:35

 

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Hebrews 10:1-10 Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 10-11 Mark 3:31-35

 

1/26/09 “Sing”

Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 

Psalms 96:2

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time. 

Today we remember Saints Timothy and Titus who preached the Good News to the world and reflect on how we can preach the Good News. 

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10 Mark 3:22-30

    Saints of the Day: Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops (Memorial)

1/25/09 Followers

And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.”  And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1: 16 – 18  

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time. 

When Jesus calls us to do something whether its pursue a religious ordinated life, or lay calling of evangelizing how fast do we respond? Is the answer “immediately”?  We must be willing to leave our “nets” nor matter what they may be and follow Jesus to where ever He wants us to go!

 

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 25:4-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20

1/24/09 Hearts

Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.

And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, “He is beside himself.”

Mark 3:20-21

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time.

 Sometimes we think with our bellies when we should be thinking with our hearts!

 Today’s quote: “In order to acquire tranquility in action it is necessary to carefully consider what we are capable of accomplishing and never to undertake more than that. It is self-love, ever more anxious to do much rather than to do well and this self-love that wishes to undertake everything and accomplishes nothing!”  – St. Francis DeSales  

First Reading:  Psalm: Gospel:

Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14  Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9 Mark 3:20-21

Saint of the Day: St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

 

1/23/09 Ministry

“Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry now.”

Hebrews 8:6

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time. 

Some of us serve in ordained or consecrated ministries and others might serve in lay ministries. The important thing is that we serve Christ. We need to find new ways to help people understand the beauty of the faith. Alot of us lay people think ministries come only in forms of being a  priest, deacon, or nun, but that is not true. There are many ministries that a we can participate in such as the “ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4), prison ministry, healing ministry and many more. As a priest of friend of mine always use to say “Don’t keep the faith spread it!”

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Hebrews 8:6-13 Psalm 85:8,10-14 Mark 3:13-19

1/22/09 Roe v. Wade

Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 

Hebrews 7: 25

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time.

Today is the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade. It’s hard to believe that abortions are legal and they exist. We almost all know of people who commit or support abortions. Some support abortions by actually getting an abortion and some support abortions by voting for pro-choice candidates. It’s easy for us to hate people who support abortions, but we should resist the urge to hate. We should love the person, but hate the evil of abortion. If you are like me, you probably get really heated when debating someone on abortion because you very well know that abortion is MURDER! I am not sure what the best way is for dealing with people who support a women’s right to choice death for her child, but one thing we can do as Christians is pray. We should pray for the child left out to die, the women who got or is debating on getting an abortion, and we should also pray for the people who support abortions by their vote. Always remembering that  ”Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. “ Hebrews 7: 25  

During the presidential campaign I wrote a little piece on abortions (with the help of one of my friends), here is the part that I want to share with you:

         There is little debate anymore whether the life in a mother’s womb is a baby. Medical science has revealed that life begins at conception. It is at conception that a unique combination of chromosomes define you as a person, it is at that moment your blueprint is created. At the time of conception a person has his own unqiue DNA. Your DNA will determine whether you will have blue eyes or brown eyes, whether you will be tall or short, whether you will have dark or light skin, your DNA will even determine your health.  From conception on your body grows and develops, but nothing new is added to your blueprint except for oxygen, fluids, and food. Before conception that blue print that defines you did not exist, after conception it did. Advancement in medical science, the ultrasound and genetic engineering has affirmed all this. Many people already understand that abortions kills humans beings, but are still voting for pro choice aka pro-abortion candidates because they figure that their are greater evils that need our immediate attention. Such evils as war, homicides, inadequate health care, and etc. 

       Looking at this in a pure numerical standpoint there are over a million surgical abortions preformed by abortions in a year by contrast there was 42 deaths caused by the death penalty last year, there about 17,000 homicides every year, premature deaths due to inadequate health care are estimated to be around 34,000 thousand deaths a year, and the iraq war has claimed the total of roughly 55 thousand iraqi and american lives over the past several years, even the people who come up with the number that the total death count of the war when you factor in diseases and displacements, etc exceeds 500,000….. that is still over 5 years, and as tragic as it is if it is true it is still less than 10% of the annual death total of abortions. All the other issues added together does not add up to the importance of the issue of abortion. 

We have all made mistakes. I even voted for pro-choice candidates a long time ago because I looked at different issues and refused to focus and weigh in the most important issue of abortion. But I realized I was wrong and I confessed my sins. And I made many efforts to correct my mistakes by letting many people know of my stance on LIFE (that I am PRO-LIFE), especially during this past election. If you have also made a mistake in the past don’t hesitate to ask for God’s mercy because ”the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Hebrews 7:25 – 8:6 Psalm 40:7-10, 17 Mark 3:7-12

                                          Saint of the Day: St. Vincent

1/21/09 St. Agnes

The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero’di-ans against him, how to destroy him. 

Mark 3: 6

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time. 

The Pharisees wanted to destroy Jesus. Jesus said “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger ⁷ greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:16 

We need to always be ready for people that try to damage our faith. St. Agnes is a good example of a saint that remained firm in the faith. At the age of 13 St. Agnes was living during the reign of Emperor Diocletian at a time of Christian persecutions. St. Agnes had a choice to either renounce her faith and get a luxurious life or stand firm and be killed. Even after showing her the instruments of her torture she remained firm in her faith. She later was executed by the sword for her faith. 

 

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 Psalm 110:1-4 Mark 3:1-6

 

                      Saint of the Day: St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr (Memorial) 

 

1/20/09 Hope

“Like a sure and firm anchor, that hope extends beyond the veil through which Jesus, our Forerunner, has entered on our behalf.” 

Hebrews 6:19-20

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian and I make mistakes from time to time. 

One Bread, One Body  had a really inspiring comment on today’s reading it said :

The author of Hebrews likens our hope in Jesus to the ship’s “sure and firm anchor” (Heb 6:19). When we have hope in Jesus, even though circumstances in our life are stormy, our hope resembles an anchor that extends from the turmoil of life on earth into the perfect calm of heaven (Heb 6:19-20). Our interior life is one of peace, not chaos. We know we won’t be swept away by the turmoil of the world. Connected to the anchor of hope, we live lives of “sure and firm” faith, hope, and love. 

Sometimes we get lost in the society we live in that is filled with pressures and heartaches, which causes us to live scared. We don’t have to be scared of this world because if we live like faithful Catholic Christians nothing in this world can hurt us. On earth our days of sufferings are numbered in Heaven our days of joy and happiness are endless! 

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Hebrews 6:10-20 Psalm 111:1-2, 4-5, 9-10 Mark 2:23-28

                             Saint of the Day: Pope St. Fabian and St. Sebastian