God, Who was once so distant and stoked fear in our ancestors in faith, came to us humbly in Jesus Christ, and furthermore humbling Himself in death upon the Cross. He thereby made a New Covenant by which we can approach God confidently. And in this New Covenant in which we stand He now calls to us to a way of life lived in humility He first demonstrated to us.
It is giving of ourselves to heed those who are lowly, not to receive a reward now, but rather, as Jesus says, on the day of the Resurrection of the Righteous. This is the way God regards the poor and lowly, knowing we all are to some degree in a state of poverty and lowliness. and this is the way we follow as we strive toward the full realization of the Kingdom.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
August 21, 2016: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
God gives a glorious vision in the Book of Isaiah about His people returning to Him, and all the nations coming, too.
God, indeed, is bringing His people together to be with Him, promising a place in His Presence in Heaven. But the path is not an easy one. At times, it requires strenuous effort to attain something so glorious. That's probably why Jesus says that there will be those who won't be strong enough to enter Heaven, not that God doesn't want all people to come to Him. Hebrews furthermore adds that the difficulties we face in striving for the Kingdom is a matter of experiencing discipline, which produces something awesome, namely, the righteousness through Jesus Christ by which we attain Heaven. It is righteousness we display now as we show we care about the end goal through living the values of the Kingdom.
God, indeed, is bringing His people together to be with Him, promising a place in His Presence in Heaven. But the path is not an easy one. At times, it requires strenuous effort to attain something so glorious. That's probably why Jesus says that there will be those who won't be strong enough to enter Heaven, not that God doesn't want all people to come to Him. Hebrews furthermore adds that the difficulties we face in striving for the Kingdom is a matter of experiencing discipline, which produces something awesome, namely, the righteousness through Jesus Christ by which we attain Heaven. It is righteousness we display now as we show we care about the end goal through living the values of the Kingdom.
Monday, August 15, 2016
August 14, 2016: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Those who proclaim God's message sometimes face great difficulty. Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern because the people in Jerusalem don't want to hear his demoralizing words calling for surrender.
Jesus says that these difficult circumstances should not surprise His followers because His words have such a powerful force to them that it will cause division. No one can remain neutral: either people will embrace the message of the Truth, or despise and resist it.
In the midst of this reality, we fix our eyes on God, so that we may persevere in the course before us, remaining faithful to Him who sent Christ to endure great difficulty to rescue us from sin and bring us into His Kingdom, as He has done for all the saints who have gone before us.
Jesus says that these difficult circumstances should not surprise His followers because His words have such a powerful force to them that it will cause division. No one can remain neutral: either people will embrace the message of the Truth, or despise and resist it.
In the midst of this reality, we fix our eyes on God, so that we may persevere in the course before us, remaining faithful to Him who sent Christ to endure great difficulty to rescue us from sin and bring us into His Kingdom, as He has done for all the saints who have gone before us.
Monday, August 8, 2016
August 7, 2016: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Kingdom of God is coming, and God wants us to be ready for His arrival.
He has given us the great gift of Faith by the Paschal Mystery that directs the focus of our lives toward awaiting His arrival, because this great gift compels us to live in a way befitting of it: We focus on building treasure in Heaven, and keeping busy in those activities that glorify God and benefit of others, that truly we experience the blessings of being His people. Faith drives us toward a Heavenly Reward, which we don't have a grasp of, but we know for sure it's real, and we aim for it.
While we don't know when He's coming, we live in a way that acknowledges that reality, in a state of constant readiness, eager to behold our God when He comes.
He has given us the great gift of Faith by the Paschal Mystery that directs the focus of our lives toward awaiting His arrival, because this great gift compels us to live in a way befitting of it: We focus on building treasure in Heaven, and keeping busy in those activities that glorify God and benefit of others, that truly we experience the blessings of being His people. Faith drives us toward a Heavenly Reward, which we don't have a grasp of, but we know for sure it's real, and we aim for it.
While we don't know when He's coming, we live in a way that acknowledges that reality, in a state of constant readiness, eager to behold our God when He comes.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
July 31, 2016: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The author of Ecclesiastes spends much of the book wrestling over the meaning of life, in the face of meaninglessness. He comes to the conclusion that is espoused and expounded upon by the other readings. By His Paschal Mystery, Christ has freed us from sin, has made us anew, and now secures us a place in Heaven. Our lives now find purpose in striving for Heaven and accumulating Heavenly treasure, not being so fixated on earthly matters. Jesus refers to a focus on wealth and enjoying its pleasures as foolishness, because it's so temporary. Rather, He calls us to focus on building treasure in Heaven, which is everlasting, to the praise of God.
Focusing on Heaven above was fitting when attending Mass at St. Peter's in Cripple Creek, CO, at an elevation of nearly 2 miles above sea level, and even as the guest priest asked for support for his mission work in Kenya.
Focusing on Heaven above was fitting when attending Mass at St. Peter's in Cripple Creek, CO, at an elevation of nearly 2 miles above sea level, and even as the guest priest asked for support for his mission work in Kenya.
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