Category: Uncategorized

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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

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Corporal Jason Lee Dunham was serving with the 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Marines Regiment, during the Iraq War.

On April 14, 2004, his convoy was responding to an attack that happened in a nearby town. Other Marines responded first, detaining several vehicles and suspects. When one of the suspects tried escaping, Corporal Dunham engaged the man in hand-to-hand combat.

During the fight, the suspect pulled the pin out of a grenade and launched it at a group of Marines. Dunham threw his helmet and his body on top of the grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the blast.

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Eight days later, Corporal Dunham died from injuries sustained during the blast … at the tender age of 22.

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Today we honor all the men and women who, like Corporal Dunham, never returned home from combat. They offered themselves for the life of our nation: for our families, our children, our freedom, and our future.

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Stories like Corporal Dunham get to the essence of Christianity. As Jesus himself once said, “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Jesus did it. Dunham did it. We should do it.

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While we cannot offer ourselves for the life of the world as Christ did, nor may we be drawn into combat as Corporal Dunham was, we are all called to offer ourselves for the good of others, even in ordinary ways.

In what ways am I of service to others: To my family? To my country? To my God?

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May Corporal Dunham and all who’ve sacrificed themselves in any way for the protection of our lives, our freedom, and our faith find rest in Christ’s kingdom. Amen.

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Image credits: (1) Corporal Jason Lee Dunham, Wikipedia (2) Learn Religions