Category: Uncategorized

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Acts: 22:30 – 23: 11.

Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
“My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
“We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

The Word of the Lord.

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“God, what is your will for me?”

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It’s a question all of us have asked at one point or another.

I’m sure we never ask it hoping that the answer involves pain or suffering. Rather, an open door; freedom; opportunity; or an exciting experience.

None of these – freedom, opportunity, or excitement – await Saint Paul. 

He’s just been put on trial, severely lashed, and thrown back into prison. Half-dead, he sits and wonders, “God, what is your will for me?”

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Anyone would’ve hoped for an open door or relief from pain and suffering.

But mysteriously, the Lord appears to Paul and says, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

That will be Paul’s next – and final – stop. 

After faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, Paul will be put to death.

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What this passage tells us is as haunting as what it does not tell us. 

It does not tell us why God allowed Paul to suffer so much; nor does it explain our own suffering.

But it does tell us that the Lord appeared to Paul; that Paul did God’s will; and through it all, Jesus was with him.

“Take courage,” the Lord says. I am with you.

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What can Paul’s life and ministry say to us? That, at times, God allows pain and suffering to enter our lives. But not without grace. 

As Paul himself wrote, “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Paul bore his cross faithfully. His way out – his reward – was the resurrection.

May he pray for us that we, too, may do the Lord’s will, which ultimately leads to life in abundance. 

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Image credits: (1) DT Life Coach, Dr. David Turpen (2) The Plot against Paul: Reading Acts, WordPress (3) St. Paul Center

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John 17: 11-19

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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It’s amazing what people will do for something – or someone – they believe in.

For example, every year when Apple releases their new iPhone, fanatics camp outside for hours, even days, hoping to be first. The longest recorded wait is ten days! 

Imagine that.

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Imagine applying that same determination to the Christian faith.

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Today we celebrate the life of a man who was at least that determined – not for an iPhone – but for Jesus.

Saint Justin Martyr converted to Christianity in the year 130 AD. He spent his adult life teaching and defending the faith, until finally he gave his life for it.

Only two of his writings remain, but they offer some beautiful insights into what some of the first Christians believed. In his Christian Apologia, Justin mentions the following:

Christians believed that baptism makes us a new creation through the remission of our sins.

They gathered every Sunday to commemorate the resurrection. These celebrations included the sharing of scripture, a sermon, prayers, and most importantly, Eucharist.

As Justin himself wrote, “the bread and wine become the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving.”

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These early Christians were clear: the Eucharist is the promised presence of Christ.

Unlike an iPhone, that’s worth waiting ten days in line for.

And if necessary, giving our life for, because the Eucharist is our promise that we shall live again.

Saint Just Martyr, believer in the Eucharist, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) (2) AZ Quotes (3) St. Paul’s Parish, Albion Park

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Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:
 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
            my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
            for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
            the Almighty has done great things for me,
            and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
            in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
            he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
            and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
            and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
            for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
            the promise he made to our fathers,
            to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Pregnancy is, perhaps, among the most intimate of human experiences. I can imagine an expectant mother rubbing her belly, feeling her child forming slowly, silently beneath her heart. Perhaps there’s an occasional kick, reminding the mother of the life forming within her.

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Pregnancy is a unique bond that only women share, including the expectant mothers, Mary and Elizabeth in today’s Gospel.

In fact, this is the only story in the Gospels between two women…and they’re both pregnant.

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Much could be said about this Feast of the Visitation.

But perhaps we can focus on a single moment: the embrace between Mary and Elizabeth, which puts flesh on our parish vision statement.

At Saint Pius X, we believe in, “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”

In that embrace between Mary and Elizabeth, we find “all generations”: 

Elizabeth represents those who are married; barren; or elderly. Mary represents those who are young; unmarried; or who are faithful to God’s promises. 

Jesus and John the Baptist represent the unborn; children; religious (both John and Jesus were servants of God); and our future as a Church.

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There, in that single embrace, we find the life of the church – of our church.

It’s an embrace between two women – years apart in age and experience – who find what we are all hungry for: friendship, faith, affirmation, community, understanding, and belonging.

I’ve found all of the above here. Have you?

If so, then invite another person to, “Come and see!”

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Image credits: The Visitation by James B. Janknegt, 2008