This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
NINE-MONTH NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Start March 12 to December 12
Prayer consecrating the upcoming election in the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Voting now till November 5-we hope?!
Face of Christ Novena
Novena of the Holy Face start Wed Oct 23 end on 1st Friday Nov 1st All Saints
oToday is all about taking care of yourself and embracing the little things that bring joy. Start your day by feeding the birds in your backyard – a simple act that can bring peace and serenity. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature and connect with the world around you.
o Next, dedicate some time to self-care. Whether it’s indulging in a warm bowl of oatmeal or pampering yourself with a skincare routine, prioritize your well-being.
oEmbrace your inner hermit by enjoying some alone time. Read a book, watch a movie, or simply relax in your own company.
oDon’t forget about our furry friends. Celebrate National Cat Day by spending quality time with your feline companions. Show them love and affection, play with them, or treat them to their favorite toys.
oAs you unwind in the evening, take a moment to appreciate the wonders of the internet. Explore new interests, connect with loved ones, or learn something new online. Lastly, raise awareness for important causes like stroke prevention or psoriasis by sharing information with your friends and family. Remember, it’s the little gestures that make a big difference. Enjoy your unique and memorable day celebrating these special occasions.
OCTOBER 29 Tuesday
WORLD STROKE DAY
2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, Verse 17
You will not have to fight in this
encounter. Take your places, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD; he
will be with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not FEAR or be dismayed. Tomorrow go out to meet them, and the LORD
will be with you.”
This encounter was a battle for the
hearts of men who were firm in the faith and hope of salvation. God was with
Israel. Those who do not fear the battle know that He is greater, and he
empowers his beloved. Let your heart ascend to Him!
1012 The Christian vision of death receives privileged
expression in the liturgy of the Church:
Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended.
When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting
dwelling place in heaven.
1013 Death is the end of man's earthly pilgrimage, of the
time of grace and mercy which God offers him so as to work out his earthly life
in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When
"the single course of our earthly life" is completed, we shall
not return to other earthly lives: "It is appointed for men to die
once." There is no "reincarnation" after death.
1014 The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the
hour of our death. In the litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray:
"From a sudden and unforeseen death, deliver us, O Lord"; to ask
the Mother of God to intercede for us "at the hour of our death" in
the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy
death.
Every action of yours, every thought, should be those of
one who expects to die before the day is out. Death would have no great terrors
for you if you had a quiet conscience .... Then why not keep clear of sin
instead of running away from death? If you aren't fit to face death today, it's
very unlikely you will be tomorrow ....
Praised are you, my Lord, for our sister bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe on those who will die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they who will be found in your most holy will,
for the second death will not harm them.
IN BRIEF
1015 "The flesh is the hinge of salvation"
(Tertullian, De res. 8, 2: PL 2, 852). We believe in God who is creator of the
flesh; we believe in the Word made flesh in order to redeem the flesh; we
believe in the resurrection of the flesh, the fulfillment of both the creation
and the redemption of the flesh.
1016 By death the soul is separated from the body, but in
the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by
reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us
will rise at the last day.
1017 "We believe in the true resurrection of this
flesh that we now possess" (Council of Lyons II: DS 854). We sow a
corruptible body in the tomb, but he raises up an incorruptible body, a
"spiritual body" (cf 1 Cor 15:42-44).
1018 As a consequence of original sin, man must suffer
"bodily death, from which man would have been immune had he not
sinned" (GS # 18).
1019 Jesus, the Son of God, freely suffered death for us in
complete and free submission to the will of God, his Father. By his death he
has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all men.
World
Stroke Day seeks to raise awareness about the possibilities of stroke and how
to prevent it. This day encourages and promotes preventative measures such as
maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. It also raises awareness
about treatment and recovery for victims of stroke. World Stroke Day was
established in 2006 by the World Stroke Organization. World Stroke Day is
observed annually on October 29th.
World Stroke Day Facts
·1
in 4 adults will have a stroke according to the World Stroke Organization.
·Preventative
measures include controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight,
and managing stress. For more, click Stroke Risks and Prevention
·90%
of strokes are associated with 10 avoidable risk factors according to the World
Stroke Organization. Some of these risk factors include hypertension, unhealthy
diet, smoking, and lack of exercise.
The
COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on stroke. While there was marked drop
in hospitalized stroke cases worldwide particularly during the first wave,
epidemiological data have shown a real increase in stroke incidence with cases
primarily occurring out of hospital and especially in care homes. Therefore,
COVID-19 infection itself is a risk factor for stroke, and a recent systematic
review reported it occurred in 1.4% of COVID-19 infections.[2]
§Let’s start by immersing yourself in the vibrant world of international animation. Grab your favorite animated movie or cartoon series, whip up some popcorn, and enjoy a heartwarming tales and fantastical adventures.
oAs the day rolls on, why not celebrate Czech Independence Day by exploring a local cultural event or trying out some traditional Czech cuisine?
oPause for a moment of gratitude on National First Responders Day. Take the time to write a thank-you note or make a small donation to a local fire station or police department. Your support and appreciation can go a long way in brightening someone’s day.
oIndulge your sweet tooth on National Chocolate Day with a decadent treat. Whether you prefer rich dark chocolate or creamy milk chocolate, savor every bite and let the sweetness lift your spirits.
OCTOBER 28 Monday-Feast of Saint’s Simon and Jude
2
Chronicles, Chapter 20,
Verse 13-15
13All Judah was standing before the
LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14And the spirit of the LORD came
upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of
Mattaniah, a Levite of the clan of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly, 15and he said: “Pay attention, all of
Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! The LORD says to you:
Do not FEAR or be dismayed at the
sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
Pay
attention the Lord is calling you to battle—but do not be afraid at the power
of the secular world for the battle is not yours but God’s. He calls us to
action.
WASHINGTON (CNS) --
Likening the 40-year struggle against legal abortion in the United States to
the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, Father Carter Griffin encouraged the
more than 14,000 people attending the Archdiocese of Washington's Jan. 25 Youth
Rally and Mass for Life by being "a generation open to life, open to love
(and) open to faith."
·"You
are a force to be reckoned with! The battle for the soul of our culture is up
to you. This is your moment! I promise you, if you are faithful, you will
change the world!"
·"Forty
years is a long time to restore this basic civil right to life, noting that the
Lord let the Israelites, and lets today's defenders of life, know that they are
not alone.”
·"We
too are being tested on our own 40-year journey, and like the Israelites, we
have a choice -- to give in to discouragement, despair, frustration -- or to
draw closer to the Lord, to grow in love, to open ourselves to his promise of
salvation."
·The
battle against abortion is the greatest civil rights battle of all time,"
has to start with each person.
·"Before
we can change laws, we have to change hearts, starting with our own.
·"Before
pro-life is a political agenda, it must become a personal agenda. Before we can
take on the culture of death, we have to become part of the culture of life, of
eternal life!"
Father Griffin emphasized
to the youths and young adults that "you are the future of this movement
for life. It is a great responsibility, an awesome task, and it will be your
glory to have been a part of it. And whether it takes another four years, or 40
years or 400 years, we will never give up."
As we battle
for the life of innocent children, we must also be cognizant of the life of
earth which God has charged us with being the stewards of the fruits of his
creative work.
Protecting the Fruits of the Earth
“The liturgy itself
teaches us this, when, during the presentation of the gifts, the priest raises
to God a prayer of blessing and petition over the bread and wine, “fruit of the
earth,” “fruit of the vine” and “work of human hands.” With these words, the
rite not only includes in our offering to God all human efforts and activity,
but also leads us to see the world as God’s creation, which brings forth
everything we need for our sustenance. The world is not something indifferent,
raw material to be utilized simply as we see fit. Rather, it is part of God’s
plan, in which all of us are called to be sons and daughters in the one son of
God, Jesus Christ (cf. EPH1:4-12). The justified concern about threats to the
environment present in so many parts of the world is reinforced by Christian
hope, which commits us to working responsibly for the protection of creation.” ~Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007, § 92
ST. SIMON and St. Jude were probably brothers; the
former received the surname Canaanite, to distinguish him from Simon Peter,
either because he was a native of Cana, or because of his zeal for Christ (Luke
v L 15; Acts i. 13). Judas was surnamed Thaddeus, or Lebbeus, to distinguish
him from Judas Iscariot. Both were chosen apostles by Christ and were constant
witnesses of His life and deeds. It is related of them in the Martyrology that
the light of faith was communicated to Egypt and other countries of Africa by
Simon, and to Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Greater Armenia by Thaddeus.
Meeting in Persia and propagating the Christian faith there by their preaching
and miracles, they both gained the crown of martyrdom. There is extant an
epistle of St. Jude which the Church has incorporated into the Holy Scriptures.
From these two apostles learn to have zeal for the glory of God, for your own
salvation and for that of your neighbor.
Prayer.
O God, Who, by means of Thy blessed apostles Simon
and Jude, hast granted us to come to the knowledge of Thy name, grant that we
may celebrate their eternal glory by making progress in virtue and improve by
this celebration.
EPISTLE. Ephes. iv. 7-13.
Brethren: To every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the giving of Christ. Wherefore He saith: Ascending
on high He led captivity captive; He gave gifts to men. Now that He ascended,
what is it, but because He also descended first into the lower parts of the
earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens,
that He might fill all things. And He gave some apostles, and some prophets,
and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors: for the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of
Christ.
GOSPEL. John xv. 17-25.
At
that time Jesus said to His disciples: These things I command you, that you
love one another. If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated Me before
you. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because
you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you. Remember My word that I said to you: The servant is not
greater than his master. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute
you: if they have kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things
they will do to you for My name’s sake: because they know not Him that sent Me.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin: but now they
have no excuse for their sin. He that hateth Me, hateth My Father also. If I
had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not
have sin: but now they have both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But that
the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: They hated Me without
cause.
Explanation.
From
the fact that Christ and His disciples were hated and persecuted by the world
the greatest consolation and encouragement may be derived by those who are
obliged to suffer mockery, contempt, and persecution because they are not of
the world; that is, because they do not follow its foolish principles and
sinful customs. But they who, to escape the derision and hatred of the world,
side with it, rather than with Christ, may learn to be ashamed of their
cowardice and baseness. For as it is an honor to the servant to be treated like
his master, so it is a great disgrace to him to be treated better than his
master; if, then, the master is pleased to submit to the hatred and persecution
of the world, why do his servants refuse to do so? When Christ says that the
Jews could not excuse themselves on the ground that they did not know Him, but
had hated and persecuted Him when it was easy for them to have known Him by His
works, He teaches us that ignorance is not in every case an excuse for sin.
Those Christians, therefore, are in the highest degree culpable who, like the
Jews, might easily learn what they ought to believe and do, but who fail to do
so either through maliciousness or neglect, and accordingly remain in ignorance
by their own fault. Acting in this kind of ignorance, they become guilty of
sin, and will be justly condemned forever. It is otherwise with men who,
without any fault of theirs, hear nothing of Christ or of the true faith, on
account of which they are not punishable, but who will be condemned for such
sins as they commit against that natural law which is inscribed on the heart of
every man.
St. Simon is represented
in art with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom. St. Jude's square points
him out as an architect of the house of God. St. Paul called himself by this
name; and St. Jude, by his Catholic Epistle, has also a special right to be
reckoned among our Lord's principal workmen. But our apostle had another
nobility, far surpassing all earthly titles: being nephew, by his father
Cleophas or Alpheus, to St. Joseph, and legal cousin to the Man-God, Jude was
one of those called by their compatriots the brethren of the carpenter's Son.
We may gather from St. John's Gospel another precious detail concerning him. In
the admirable discourse at the close of the last Supper, our Lord said:
"He that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father: and I will love him and
will manifest Myself to him." Then Jude asked Him: "Lord, how is it,
that Thou wilt manifest Thyself to us, and not to the world?" And he
received from Jesus this reply: "If any one love Me, he will keep My word,
and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and will make Our abode
with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My word. And the word which you
have heard is not Mine, but the Fathers who sent Me."
St. Jude Patron: Desperate situations; forgotten
causes; hospital workers; hospitals; impossible causes; lost causes; diocese of
Saint Petersburg, Florida.
St. SimonPatron: Curriers; sawmen; sawyers;
tanners.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION TWO-I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER THREE-I BELIEVE IN THE
HOLY SPIRIT
Article
11-"I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"
II. Dying in Christ Jesus
Day 137
1005 To rise with Christ, we
must die with Christ: we must "be away from the body and at home with the
Lord." In that "departure" which is death the soul is
separated from the body. It will be reunited with the body on the day of
resurrection of the dead.
Death
1006 "It is in regard to
death that man's condition is most shrouded in doubt." In a sense
bodily death is natural, but for faith it is in fact "the wages of
sin." For those who die in Christ's grace it is a participation in
the death of the Lord, so that they can also share his Resurrection.
1007 Death is the end of
earthly life. Our lives are measured by time, in the course of which we change,
grow old and, as with all living beings on earth, death seems like the normal
end of life. That aspect of death lends urgency to our lives: remembering our
mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring
our lives to fulfillment:
Remember
also your Creator in the days of your youth, . . . before the dust returns to
the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
1008 Death is a consequence of
sin. the Church's Magisterium, as authentic interpreter of the affirmations of
Scripture and Tradition, teaches that death entered the world on account of
man's sin. Even though man's nature is mortal God had destined him not to
die. Death was therefore contrary to the plans of God the Creator and entered
the world as a consequence of sin. "Bodily death, from which man
would have been immune had he not sinned" is thus "the last
enemy" of man left to be conquered.
1009 Death is transformed by
Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, also himself suffered the death that is part of
the human condition. Yet, despite his anguish as he faced death, he accepted it
in an act of complete and free submission to his Father's will. The
obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing.
The meaning of Christian death
1010 Because of Christ,
Christian death has a positive meaning: "For to me to live is Christ, and
to die is gain." "The saying is sure: if we have died with him,
we will also live with him. What is essentially new about Christian death
is this: through Baptism, the Christian has already "died with
Christ" sacramentally, in order to live a new life; and if we die in
Christ's grace, physical death completes this "dying with Christ" and
so completes our incorporation into him in his redeeming act:
It is better
for me to die in (eis) Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth.
Him it is I seek - who died for us. Him it is I desire - who rose for us. I am
on the point of giving birth .... Let me receive pure light; when I shall have
arrived there, then shall I be a man.
1011 In death, God calls man to
himself. Therefore the Christian can experience a desire for death like St.
Paul's: "My desire is to depart and be with Christ. " He can
transform his own death into an act of obedience and love towards the Father,
after the example of Christ:
My earthly
desire has been crucified; . . . there is living water in me, water that
murmurs and says within me: Come to the Father.
I want to see God and, in order to see him, I must die.
I am not dying; I am entering life.
·Mental health experts recommend everyone just take the day off to chill out and watch the old cartoon version of “The Hobbit”.
·How to celebrate Oct 27th
oStart your day by running a virtual marathon in the comfort of your own neighborhood. Challenge yourself and feel the endorphins kick in as you complete the miles.
oKeep the Navy Day spirit going by reaching out to a former or current naval member. Show your appreciation through a heartfelt message or a simple gesture of gratitude.
oNext, celebrate National Mentoring Day by being an encouraging mentor to someone in your life. Offer guidance, support, and wisdom to help them navigate through challenges.
oEmbrace the playful energy of Cranky Co-Workers Day by organizing a virtual game night with your colleagues. Bond over friendly competition and lighten the mood.
oAs evening approaches, unwind with a cold beer in honor of National American Beer Day. Pair it with some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to elevate the experience.
o Finally, end your day by cozying up with a black cat and a good book, celebrating National Black Cat Day. Embrace the calmingpresence of your feline companion and relax into the night.
Via the Gospel, the Lord Jesus gives a
penetrating analysis of the state of the sinner and some very sobering advice
to us would-be saints on maintaining an undivided heart.
We look
first to the description of a sinner. Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man
had a steward …” Notice that he is referred to as a steward
rather than an owner. God is the owner of everything; we are but stewards. A
steward must deal with the goods of another according to the will of the other.
Before God, we own nothing. Part of the essence of sin is behaving as though we
were the owner. “… who
was reported to him for squandering his property.” We,
too, can waste the gifts we have received or use them for sinful ends.For example, in greed, we
hoard the gifts that he gave us for the purpose of helping others. In gossip,
lying and cursing, we misuse the gift of speech; in laziness, we misuse the
gift of time; in all sin, we abuse and squander the gift of our freedom. This
is dissipation, the squandering of God’s goods. “He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a
full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’”
Someday our stewardship will end, and we will all be called to account.
Principles
of Saints-to-Be
After analyzing the sinner, the Lord
has some principle for those of us who want to be saints: intensity,
investment, increase and indivisibility. The text says that the steward called
in his master’s debtors one by one and cut their debt to the master in various
proportions. And, strangely, the master commended that dishonest steward for
acting shrewdly! In earning money and holding down a job, many display great
discipline: getting up early to go to work and going the extra mile to please
the boss. They will expend effort to please the boss, to please man, but not to
please God. The spiritually minded ought to show the same intensity,
organization, dedication and craftiness that the world show in their pursuits.
Jesus says, “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so
that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” The Lord
tells of how the dishonest steward made use of the money at his disposal to
make friends who would help him in the next stage of his life.
How about us?
Are we willing to use our money and
resources to bless and make friends with others (especially the poor, who can
bless us in the next stage of our life)?
On the day of your judgment, will the
poor and needy be able to speak up on your behalf?
The Lord says
that the person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in
great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also
dishonest in great ones.
The small matter is money.
You want more?
Then use well
what you’ve already received. Jesus says, “No servant can serve two masters.
... You cannot serve God and mammon.” Most people obey money and affluence;
they worship a high standard of living before they obey God. They meet their
worldly obligations first and then give God what is left over. But we are
called to have an undivided heart. You cannot obey the world (money) and think
you’re also going to obey God.
"In
the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gn
1:1)
10.
Coming as it does from the hand of God, the cosmos bears the imprint of his
goodness. It is a beautiful world, rightly moving us to admiration and delight,
but also calling for cultivation and development. At the "completion"
of God's work, the world is ready for human activity. "On the seventh day
God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from
all his work which he had done" (Gn 2:2). With this anthropomorphic
image of God's "work", the Bible not only gives us a glimpse of the
mysterious relationship between the Creator and the created world, but also
casts light upon the task of human beings in relation to the cosmos. The
"work" of God is in some ways an exemple for man, called not only to
inhabit the cosmos, but also to "build" it and thus become God's
"co-worker". As I wrote in my Encyclical Laborem Exercens, the
first chapters of Genesis constitute in a sense the first "gospel of
work". This is a truth which the Second Vatican Council also stressed:
"Created in God's image, man was commissioned to subdue the earth and all
it contains, to rule the world in justice and holiness, and, recognizing God as
the creator of all things, to refer himself and the totality of things to God
so that with everything subject to God, the divine name would be glorified in
all the earth".
The
exhilarating advance of science, technology and culture in their various forms
— an ever more rapid and today even overwhelming development — is the
historical consequence of the mission by which God entrusts to man and woman
the task and responsibility of filling the earth and subduing it by means of
their work, in the observance of God's Law.
Twenty-Third
Sunday after Pentecost[3]The
focus of this Sunday is a reminder of the Book of Life and the resurrection of
the body.
THE Introit of the Mass consoles us, and encourages
us to confidence in God, who is so kind to us, and will not suffer us to be
always in tribulation. “The Lord saith, I think thoughts of peace, and not of
affliction. You shall call upon Me, and I will hear you, and I will bring back
your captivity from all places. Lord, thou hast blest Thy land, Thou hast
turned away the captivity of Jacob.”
Prayer.
Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy people, that we may
be delivered by Thy goodness from the bonds of sin which, by our frailty, we
have committed.
EPISTLE. Phil. iii.
17-21; iv. 1-3.
Be followers of me, brethren, and observe them who
walk so as you have our model. For many walk, of whom I have told you often
(and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ; whose
end is destruction: whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their
shame: who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven: from whence
also we look for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will reform the body of
our lowness, made like to the body of His glory, according to the operation
whereby also He is able to subdue all things unto Himself. Therefore, my dearly
beloved brethren, and most desired, my joy and my crown: so, stand fast in the
Lord, my dearly beloved. I beg of Evodia, and I beseech Syntyche to be of one
mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those
women that have labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement and the rest of my
fellow- laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Explanation.
In these words, the Apostle gives warning against
the false teachers of his day, who, although outwardly receiving and preaching
Christianity, in heart hated the strict requirements of Christian morals, and
lived according to their sensual lusts. He therefore cautions the faithful not
to take them for patterns, for they are only hastening to eternal perdition,
but rather to be followers of him, and of those who imitate his life. These
warnings and admonitions apply also to us. For are there not among us enemies
of the cross of Christ, who are called Christians, but who will have nothing to
do with self-denial, mortification, chastity, and such like virtues? who indeed
despise them, and count those who practice them fools? Let us not be led astray
by them. For what will be the end of them? Everlasting destruction. For he who
does not crucify his flesh does not belong to Christ (Gal. v. 24); whoever does
not bear about his body the dying of Christ, in his body the life of Christ,
will never be made manifest (n. Cor. iv. 10). Whoever does not already walk in
heaven, that is, direct his thoughts and desires to heavenly goods, will not
find admission there after death.
Ejaculation.
O my God would that I might say, with St. Paul, the
world is crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal. vi. 14).
At that time, as Jesus was speaking to the
multitudes, behold a certain ruler came up, and adored Him, saying: Lord, my
daughter is even now dead; but come, lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
And Jesus rising up, followed him with His disciples. And behold a woman who
was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched
the hem of His garment. For she said within herself: If I shall touch only His
garment I shall be healed. But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Be of good
heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole
from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler and saw the
minstrels and the multitude making a rout, he said: Give place, for the girl is
not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. And when the multitude
was put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand. And the maid arose. And
the fame hereof went abroad into all that country.
Explanation
The ruler and the woman here mentioned teach us that
in diseases of body or of mind we should have recourse to Jesus with faith and
confidence; and even when the malady continues, and seems to be incurable, we
should not suffer our courage to sink.
ON MOCKERY AND RIDICULE
When Jesus entered the house of Jairus, and said, the
girl is not dead, but sleepeth, the multitude laughed Him to scorn, because
they understood neither the meaning of His words nor what He was about to do.
Similar treatment sensual-minded men of the world often give to those servants
of God who, by word and example, preach the contempt of honors, riches,
pleasures, and the love of poverty, humility, and mortification. Permit not
yourself to be led astray by those who ridicule your zeal for virtue; pay no heed
to them, according to the example of Jesus, and trust in Him Who was Himself
derided for your sake. Say to yourself: I know, O dearest Jesus, that the
servant is not greater than his master. When Thou wast so often mocked, why
should it appear strange to me to be jeered at and called senseless for
endeavoring to practice devotion and virtue? I would not fare differently from
Thee, my Lord and my God.
Today
prior to 1962 we
would have celebrated the last Sunday in October as Christ the King.
“Blessed is the king who comes in
the name of our God.” (Luke 19:38)
Behold our King comes to us from the
Tabernacle…Our priests bring us our King via communion. Has COVID made: The
Body of Christ,” unavailable or worse irrelevant?
There was joy and celebration by the
people as Jesus entered into Jerusalem, on Palm Sunday; we learn from the
gospel that much later things had taken a terrible turn for the worst. Jesus
was arrested and sentenced to death. What? Where were we? We heard shouting:
“Crucify him” “We have no king, but Caesar.” Did we join in the shouting and
jeering? “If you are the king of Jews, come down from the cross. Save
yourself.”
Where do we stand? There was a
different voice that day from one of the criminals crucified with Jesus. He
rebuked the other criminal who asked Jesus to save them. With these words:
“Have you no fear of God? We have been condemned justly. This man has done
nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus and said: “Remember me when you come
into your kingdom” Jesus replies: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
I ask again. Where do we stand as all
these events unfold? How do we hope we would have the courage to be, to align
ourselves in difficult or challenging circumstances? There is much to ponder,
to think about.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
Day 136
How do the dead rise?
997 What is "rising"?
In death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and
the soul goes to meet God, while awaiting its reunion with its glorified body.
God, in his almighty power, will definitively grant incorruptible life to our
bodies by reuniting them with our souls, through the power of Jesus'
Resurrection.
998 Who will rise? All the dead
will rise, "those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and
those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."
999 How? Christ is raised with
his own body: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself"; but he did not return to an earthly life. So, in him,
"all of them will rise again with their own bodies which they now
bear," but Christ "will change our lowly body to be like his glorious
body," into a "spiritual body":
But someone
will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they
come?" You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
and what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel ....What is
sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.... the dead will be raised
imperishable.... For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and
this mortal nature must put on immortality.
1000 This "how" exceeds
our imagination and understanding; it is accessible only to faith. Yet our
participation in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Christ's
transfiguration of our bodies:
Just as bread
that comes from the earth, after God's blessing has been invoked upon it, is no
longer ordinary bread, but Eucharist, formed of two things, the one earthly and
the other heavenly: so too our bodies, which partake of the Eucharist, are no
longer corruptible, but possess the hope of resurrection.
1001 When? Definitively "at
the last day," "at the end of the world." Indeed, the
resurrection of the dead is closely associated with Christ's Parousia:
For the Lord
himself will descend from heaven, with a cry of command, with the archangel's
call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will
rise first.
Risen with Christ
1002 Christ will raise us up
"on the last day"; but it is also true that, in a certain way, we
have already risen with Christ. For, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian
life is already now on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of
Christ:
And you were
buried with him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with him through
faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead .... If then you have
been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
1003 United with Christ by
Baptism, believers already truly participate in the heavenly life of the risen
Christ, but this life remains "hidden with Christ in God." The
Father has already "raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Nourished with his body in the
Eucharist, we already belong to the Body of Christ. When we rise on the last
day we "also will appear with him in glory."
1004 In expectation of that day,
the believer's body and soul already participate in the dignity of belonging to
Christ. This dignity entails the demand that he should treat with respect his
own body, but also the body of every other person, especially the suffering:
The body [is
meant] for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. and God raised the Lord and
will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are
members of Christ? .... You are not your own; .... So glorify God in your body.
Theodore
Roosevelt's birthday Oct 27th (1858)
Enthusiasm-Teddy Roosevelt. We need to be
enthusiastic about all things that God wills for us. John McCain in his book
“Character is Destiny” points out that to have a creative mind we must be
enthusiastic. John’s example of a man filled with enthusiasm is that of
President Theodore Roosevelt.
McCain
says of President Roosevelt:
He led one of the most eventful lives
in American history and did it all with the delight and eagerness of a
six-year-old boy. Yet he was not afraid of work: library shelves would
eventually groan under the weight of his forty books, many of them with
multiple volumes. Besides being a writer and politician, he was also a warrior
during the Spanish American war and led a charge up San Juan Hill.
Roosevelt was sickly as a boy. He was
small, terribly nearsighted, and plagued by asthma that left him chronically
breathless. His father, who was the greatest influence on his life, and whom he
loved more than any other, took him for carriage rides in the evenings so that
the cool night air might restore regular breathing to his gasping child.
Despite the crowded duties of the respected and civic-minded reformer, the
older Roosevelt never deprived his son of loving attention. He calmed his
fears, and encouraged him to defy his physical handicap, build his willpower,
and strengthen his body. The dutiful son complied, and pushed himself with
exercise, sports, and sheer bloody-minded determination to begin his lifelong
crusade to become a vigorous, exuberant outdoorsman. He swam and fished and
hunted and rowed and hiked and rode on horseback whenever he could. His mind
was as eager as was the body he willed to health.
Theodore as a young “Harvard” man had a
romantic temperament, but he was a scrupulously moral young man. He did not
smoke or drink and would never offend God and womankind by pressing unseemly
affections on a young lady. And he could not abide, under any circumstances,
indolence. He always thought “My duty is clear—to study well and live like a
brave Christian gentleman.” He spent a few weeks before the start of his junior
year living in Maine’s north woods with a rugged outdoorsman, lumberjack, and
hunting guide, Bill Sewall, who became his lifelong friend. He was still a
skinny kid, with thick spectacles. His constitution looked fragile to those who
didn’t know him, but he impressed the older man immediately, carrying as much
in his pack on their hunting trip as Sewall, sharing the chores, keeping the
pace in their canoe, hiking for endless distances through all kinds of weather,
swimming in freezing water, and falling exhausted into sleep beneath the stars.
Teddy Roosevelt was a determined guy,
and when it came to dinnertime, he made sure that his favorite comfort foods
were a priority. Pigs in blankets, turtle soup and fried chicken smothered in
white gravy kept him running—that and plenty of coffee, sweetened with as many
as seven lumps of sugar!
·Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no
shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
