Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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During my six years of priestly ministry, I’ve experienced first-hand the power given by Christ to the Apostles in today’s Gospel. 

I’ve witnessed an evil spirit exit a man after going to confession; I’ve seen a young boy’s eyesight restored after nearly going blind; I’ve seen tumors turn benign; brain damage erased; and cancer disappear.

There is no question in my mind whether or not Christ still heals people today. Without question, he does. But why Jesus heals a person is as mysterious as why he doesn’t.

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I often remind people, when Christ heals us, we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture: God restores our physical bodies to offer us a glimpse of what’s to come.

If God can restore us physically, then allow yourself to imagine what he will do to us spiritually in the resurrection of the dead.

That’s the moment we have to stay focused on: the moment when the universe itself is restored to its original goodness – and we along with it.

This is the same message the Apostles had to share with those whom they healed. Greater things than this are coming.

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In the words of Bruce Springsteen: “Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.”

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Image credits: (1) Watch Miracles, Amazon.com (2) Groundwork Bible Study (3) FinTech Futures

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Gospel: Matthew 9: 9-13

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
    I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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He said to him, “Follow me.”

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This probably wasn’t the first time Matthew heard of Jesus, who was already a type of celebrity.

But today Jesus invites Matthew into his inner circle – and Matthew jumps at the chance!

But Matthew had no idea what his future held. He had no idea of the risk; the personal transformation he’d experience; or the personal responsibility that would later be placed on his shoulders.

If he did, then he might’ve shrieked in fear or knelt in humility.

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I’m sure looking back over our own lives, there are times when we would’ve shrieked in fear if we knew what was ahead – a malignant diagnosis, an unexpected death, a sudden turn of events.

Similarly, there might’ve been days when we would’ve leapt for joy.

If I had known, for example, that I’d be destined for St. Pius X, then I would’ve walked every day of my past with pep in my step.

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Saint Matthew reminds us that, regardless of what lies ahead, God has a plan for our lives.

We only need to accept it one day at a time.

Hopefully, with a little pep in our step.

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Image credits: (1) Forbes (2) The Calling of St. Matthew, Caravaggio (3) Everypixel

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Gospel:

Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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From the very beginning of Christianity, governments have tried squashing the Church.  This was first true under the Roman Empire. For centuries, emperors led sporadic purges, causing Christians to be martyred by the thousands. 

But, mysteriously, the Church continued to grow. 

This was even true in the 20^th century. From 1926-1929, for example, an estimated 30,000 Catholics were killed by the Mexican government in what was known as the Cristero War. 

Catholics fought against their government because there was not a separation between Church and State, but a complete subordination of the Church to the State.

Many Catholics gave their lives for their beliefs – and, mysteriously, the Church continued to grow.

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Today we remember, in particular, the 10,000 martyrs who died in Korea after the Gospel first reached its shores. 

Christian missionaries taught them that everyone was equal in their dignity by virtue of their baptism, a radical shift their traditional class-based system.

The purity of these Christians’ faith challenged the powers that be, leading to widespread persecution.

And, mysteriously, the Church continued to grow.

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The martyrs remind us that we are, as Jesus says,“the light of the world…the salt of the earth…and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against us.”

May their example strengthen us to continue bearing witness to the Truth. 

As we do, mysteriously, the Church will continue to grow.

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Image credits: (1) CatholicAnswers.com (2) Gospel Teaching Life Church, WordPress (3) Faith Community Church