Category: Uncategorized

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Acts 1:15 – 26

“Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters
(there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons
in the one place).
He said, “My brothers and sisters,
the Scripture had to be fulfilled
which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand
through the mouth of David, concerning Judas,
who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.
Judas was numbered among us
and was allotted a share in this ministry.
For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

    Let his encampment become desolate,
        and may no one dwell in it.
and:
    May another take his office.

Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men 
who accompanied us the whole time 
the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
beginning from the baptism of John
until the day on which he was taken up from us,
become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas,
who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Then they prayed,
“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all,
show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry
from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,
and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.”

The Word of the Lord.

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Today we encounter the Christian community immediately after the resurrection. Christ has been raised; the Apostles have come out of hiding; and now all of the known Christians are gathering together in prayer.

The reason? 

They’re asking the Lord to reveal who shall replace Judas as the twelfth Apostle: either Matthias or Joseph called Barsabbas.

In the end, Matthias is chosen.

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But there’s another detail included in this story, perhaps one of the most uplifting yet overlooked details in the New Testament.

The number of disciples gathered that day was only about 120. This incredibly small, tight-knit community of ordinary men and women has been commissioned to evangelize the world.

If ever anything began from small beginnings, the Church did.

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You may find yourself the only Christian in your home; the only one who prays or goes to Mass; the only Catholic at work; the only spiritual person in your circle of friends.

But like those first Christians, God can use you to spread his kingdom to the ends of the earth.

This is certain: so long as we are faithful to the tasks God has given us, then we will set the world on fire with divine love.

It was true in the beginning and it remains true today.

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May Saint Matthias, and those other 120 largely anonymous Christians, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Orthodox Church in America (2) CatholicIreland.net (3) Claretian Missionaries, Saint Matthias (4) Praying For One Another YouTube

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In 1917, Portugal joined most of Western Europe, entering World War I. As a result, 220,00 Portuguese civilians would die from violence, famine, and disease. 

Portugal was at war on two fronts. Externally, it was protecting its interests in Africa.

But internally, Portugal was at war with its Catholic citizens. The government banned religious festivals and seized Catholic schools and churches by the bunches.

In fact, between 1911 and 1916, nearly 2,000 priests were murdered by their own countrymen.

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This was the Portugal that the Blessed Virgin Mary entered into when she appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima on May 13, 1917.

The essence of her message was: conversion.

Pray for the conversion of Portugal – and the conversion of the world. 

The best way to do that, she said, was to pray the rosary.

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Perhaps Mary appeared to children, only one who lived to become an adult – spending her life as a nun – because she knew how seriously they’d take her message; her appearances would not be met with skepticism, rather with child-like faith.

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Mary’s message is still relevant for our world today. Just open the newspaper or turn on the television; it’s clear how divided our world is. 

On this 104^th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, we’re reminded to pray for the conversion of all souls, including our own.

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Image credits: (1) Diocese of Lansing (2) Children of Fatima (3) Magis Center

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Gospel: John 15: 9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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What a beautiful time of year. The flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and the weather is warming. With the dark days of winter behind us, you might say, “Love is in the air!” 

Yes, we’ve officially entered wedding season. Over the next few months, I’ll be celebrating over a dozen weddings. What a joyful time to be a priest!

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When preparing couples for marriage, I always ask them, “What is love?”

You’re promising to love one another all the days of your life, so what is it? What is love? How would you define it?

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Sometimes they struggle to form an answer.

Love can be hard to define. We feel it; we give it; we receive it. But what is it?

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Here are a few examples I’ve heard from engaged couples:

Love is calling you everyday on my way to work just to say you’re on my mind.

Love is asking about your day before telling you about mine.

Love is eating healthier so I can live with you longer.

Love is learning how to listen.

Love is the effort it takes to merge our families into one.

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On this Mother’s Day, I’m sure every mom and dad could add a thousand other examples.

Love is coaching your children through their soccer games; sitting by their side while learning online; holding them tight after their first heartbreak; providing a safe and loving home; doing the dishes and the laundry day after day, year after year.

Love is watching your children go off to college; it’s supporting their dreams, even when they’re different from your own; it’s the pride you feel when you see them succeed, starting a career or a family of their own.

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What else might you add? What is love?

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In the Gospels, Jesus says, “There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

Love is an action. It’s something we do all the time.

It’s also something Jesus does when he lays down his life on the Cross. While we can never match his ultimate sacrifice, the Lord encourages us today to continue following his example, laying down our lives in the smallest of ways.

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Apart from loving our closest family and friends, we’re also commanded to feed the hungry, to comfort the bereaved, to care for the sick, to visit the lonely, and to defend the defenseless.

Where can we do such things? 

Right here in our parish.

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For example, many of you took our most recent parish survey. Allow me challenge you a little more.

It’s easy to say what we want: a hospitality ministry, a vibrant youth group, a family Mass, a bereavement ministry, an active soup kitchen.

But we have to dig a little deeper to say, “I’ll lay down my time and talent to help make this happen. I’ll be a server, a lector, a Eucharistic Minister. I’ll show up every Sunday. I’ll stand at the door and greet.”

Love is an action – and, at times, a sacrifice. 

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Why should we do these things? If love is a sacrifice, then why love at all?

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Maybe you’ve heard me use this line before. In Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, a young Juliet gazes down upon Romeo and says, “Romeo, the more I give to you the more I seem to have.”

That’s the secret of love. The more we give, the more we have.

It’s true in marriage, it’s true in parenting, and it’s true in our spiritual lives. The more we give to God, to our neighbor, and to our parish, the happier we become.

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So, in what ways might we lay down our lives and love one another this week?

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Image credits: (1) Ivan Guaderrama, The Patience of Love (2) Healing Refuge Fellowship (3) www.staidansbenton.yolasite.com (4) South Bay Bible Church