Author: admin

***

Gospel: Mark 9: 41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed 
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled 
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Nine years ago today – at about this hour – I sat in the garden of the Cathedral and prayed the rosary with our Archbishop and thirteen other men.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death,” we said in unison over and over again.

Finally, the time had come. 

After six years of study, countless hours spent in prayer, discernment, and pastoral service, fourteen of us were about to be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Newark. 

***

There was an unforgettable blend of peace and immense joy in my heart as we processed down the aisle for Mass. 

The Cathedral was full, the choir was singing praise at the top of their lungs, the smell of incense wafted into my nose, as our families and friends gazed in wonder.

That joy in my heart became the first lesson the Lord taught me as a priest: whenever we follow Him, there is joy; there is peace. 

This does not mean that trial or sacrifice won’t come our way, but transcending it all, there is Jesus at the center, who has, “overcome the world.”

***

Since that day drenched in grace, I’ve celebrated hundreds of baptisms, anointings, and funerals. I’ve stood with dozens of couples at the altar as they state their vows before the Lord.

Here at St. Pius X, I’ve also been given the opportunity to dream, to envision our future together, and to build the kingdom of God with you day by day. I cannot imagine living a more meaningful life. 

Looking back nine years ago today, if I could speak to myself at the moment of my ordination, I’d say, remember the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

“For I know well the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your benefit, not for woe; to give you a future full of hope. You will find me when you seek me, when you seek me with all of your heart.”

***

May we continue to seek the Lord with all of our heart, each in our own way. The more we do, the happier and more joyful we become.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Our Lady of Sorrows, South Orange (2) Today’s Catholic (3) St. Pius X, Old Tappan

***

Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him.”

Why on earth would John – or any of the Apostles – try to stop someone from doing a good deed? Casting out a demon from a possessed person would not only lead to immense relief for the possessed, it would also glorify God!

And yet, “We tried to prevent him.”

***

Though they bear the authority of Christ, the Apostles are already starting to experience an attachment – even an entitlement – to Christ’s power, as if it’s all about them. 

This can still be a temptation for people involved in leadership or parish ministry today. We can quickly become so attached to authority, as if it’s ours, that it makes us afraid to either share it or give it up. 

This is not only true amongst the clergy, but also the laity.

As a result, new ideas are quickly squashed; ministries become exclusive; the Church looks more like a “club” than a welcoming family.

***

“Do not prevent him,” Jesus says. In fact, do not prevent anyone from doing good!

Because this is how the kingdom of God grows – when new people are welcomed, new ideas are expressed, responsibility is shared, and good deeds multiply.

As we often sing together on Sundays, “All are welcome in this place!”

***

***

Image credits: (1) Tricycle: The Buddhist Review (2) Buckhannon Alliance Church (3) Salem United Methodist Church, Facebook

***

James: 4: 1-10

Beloved:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly,
to spend it on your passions.
Adulterers!
Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God?
Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world   
makes himself an enemy of God.
Or do you suppose that the Scripture speaks without meaning when it says,
The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy?
But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:
God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.

So submit yourselves to God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep.
Let your laughter be turned into mourning
and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord
and he will exalt you.

The Word of the Lord.

***

***

The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, likens the soul to a charioteer whose task it is to drive two horses. 

One horse is gentle and mild, obedient to the commands of its master. The other is wild, untamed, and rebellious.

The name of the first horse is Reason. The second horse is Passion.

***

Reason and Passion live in constant conflict within us.

For example, if someone strikes you across the cheek, reason would say, “Take a deep breath. Back down. They may be stronger than you!” 

Even, “Forgive them.”

Passion would say, “Hit ‘em hard! Smack ‘em back!”

***

This is what makes Christian living so difficult at times. We must learn how to tame our passions; how to humble our ego; how to be measured, wise, and merciful. 

In a word, how live and love like Christ.

Meaning, it’s not enough for us to refrain from hurting another person; we should never wish harm upon anyone.

It’s not enough to know what is right; we should always do what is right.

It’s not enough to refrain from being dishonest; we should never consider telling a lie.

As Saint James writes in our first reading: 

“Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? So, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

***

Hands the reigns of your heart over to Christ to the point that we can say with Saint Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ living within me.”

***

***

Image credits: (1) Tug of war rope, Amazon.com (2) Steemit.com (3) Heartlight.org