His Word Today: Blossoms

Good morning everyone,

In the gospel passage for today's Mass, Jesus uses the image of blossoms to explain how we should open our eyes to see the coming of the kingdom.  He says: Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.  When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near (Lk 21:29-30).

How often do we consider the fact that we must train ourselves to look for similar signs that the kingdom of heaven is at hand?  Children who need our help to develop habits that will help them to develop to their full potential, teenagers who need our help to find their way in an often confusing world, young adults who need our help to remember the values of family and faith even though society insists on testing these basic building blocks, the sick and the elderly who need our help to give them a voice in situations where they might otherwise go un-noticed ... all of these and more are signs of the blossoms of God's kingdom - possibilities for us to be of service to others so that they in turn will understand that they are loved.

Be on the lookout today for the blossoms that foretell the coming of the kingdom.  None of them appear by mere happenstance; each of them is an invitation for us to rejoice because the kingdom of God is near at hand.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Near

Good morning everyone,

All though these final days of the liturgical year, the gospel passages paint stark images of the end times.  In today's passage, Jesus explains:There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Lk 21:25-26).

Yet, against these vibrant images, Jesus says that when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand (Lk 21:28).  While others may be scared about such images, we are called to remain calm and to trust that the Lord will never abandon us.  In fact, our heavenly Father is always close to us, loving us and instilling us with an idea of the depth to which he loves us.

If we dare to stand erect and to raise our heads because we are convinced about the fact that our redemption is close at hand, people will see in us the light of faith that is the gift of our heavenly Father to all his beloved children.  Let us choose today to believe that our God is near.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Persecuted

Good morning everyone,

Someone recently reminded me of the fact that missionaries - those who are sent to various places with a specific mission or task - are always persecuted.  This was true in the time of Jesus, when he took such great pain and effort to convince the first disciples of the love that our God has for each of us, and today as we are called and sent to continue sharing the good news of God's love with people of our time.

Jesus warned his disciples that this task would not be easy: They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name (Lk 21:12), but he also reassured them that they would never be alone: I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking (Lk 21:15).

Many of our fellow disciples have suffered in this way; many of them still suffer.  Let us remember and pray for all those who experience such persecution, and let us pray today for the grace we need so that we may always choose to follow Jesus and to find our joy in knowing him.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Portents

Good morning everyone,

In the gospel passage for today's Mass, Jesus paints a picture in rather detailed fashion.  In a time when there were few people who could read and write, he used images to convey his message.  Attempting to portray the end times - which no human being has ever encountered - he tells his disciples that nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues ... and mighty signs will come from the sky (Lk 21:10-11).

There are some who would say that such a vision is being fulfilled in our times, however it is important to also hear another phrase that Jesus uses while he is describing this scene.  He reassures the disciples, saying: Do not be terrified (Lk 21:9) and he goes even further, saying: Do not be deceived (Lk 21:8).

Throughout the centuries that have come and gone, these words continue to echo in our ears and in our hearts.  They are addressed to us today.  Jesus knows that there are all kinds of signs and warnings that can and do create uncertainty and fear in human hearts, but he also knows that our God is forever faithful and will never forsake us.

Let us pray today for renewed trust and a new resolve to believe these words for ourselves.  When we are faced with difficult moments, let us look to Jesus and ask him to help us so that we are not deceived, discouraged or terrified but rather that we are made more deeply aware of his abiding presence as we continue the journey.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates and prays with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who lived in the latter part of the third century and the first part of the fourth century A.D.  At a time when Christianity was not yet a recognized religion, she is reported to have received a vision of Mary and the baby Jesus which persuaded her to become a Christian.

When the persecutions began under Maxentius, being herself of noble birth, she went to the emperor and rebuked him for his cruelty. The emperor summoned 50 of the best pagan philosophers and orators to dispute with her, hoping that they would refute her pro-Christian arguments, but Catherine won the debate. Several of her adversaries, conquered by her eloquence, declared themselves Christians and were at once put to death.

She was then cruelly tortured and imprisoned, yet people continued to visit her.  As a result of her testimony, many of them converted to Christianity even though to do so meant their certain death.  Infuriated by her obstinacy, the Emperor ordered her to be put to death.  When he ordered her to be beheaded, she herself called for the execution to begin.

Saint Luke's gospel speaks today of the witness given by a widow who placed two small coins in the temple treasury (Lk 21:1-4).  Jesus saw her gesture and understood immediately that this poor widow has put in more than all the rest of the people who were passing by.  Let us ask Saint Catherine to pray for us today, that we too will put all that we are at the service of our God.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Cecilia

Good afternoon everyone,

Today, the Church prays and celebrates with Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians.  In one of his discourses on the psalms, Saint Augustine says: Praise the Lord with the lyre and make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!  Sing to him an new song.  Rid yourself of what is old and worn out, for you know a new song (Psalm 32, Sermon 1).

Every day, the Lord continues to sing his song of love in our hearts.  He who makes the most beautiful music shares this gift with us.  He invites us to sing a song with our lives, by living as his disciples and by learning day after day how to be the best examples of faith that we can.  It is reassuring to know that He is constantly present to us, loving us and encouraging us to believe in ourselves.

Through the intercession of Saint Cecilia, may the Lord's song of love continue to resound in our hearts.  Day after day, may our words and deeds help to harmonize with the music that He is already making within us.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is known in the Eastern Churches as the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos (Mother of God) into the Temple.  This feast is not associated with any events recounted in the gospels but rather with another text known as the Protoevangelium of James.

According to the text, Mary's parents were childless but received a message from heaven announcing the coming of their child.  In thanksgiving for the birth of their daughter, while she was still very young, they brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.

The Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians says this: ... as long as a designated heir is not of age, his condition is no different from that of a slave, even though in name he is master of all his possessions; for he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the time set by his father.  In the same way, while we were not yet of age, we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman ... to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons (Gal 4:1-5).

As we celebrate Mary's feast today, let us ask her to intercede for us so that we may be re-awakened to the truth of our spiritual childhood.  We are heirs to a blessed promise that is yet to be fulfilled.

Have a great day.
Fr. Tony