Moments of Mercy: Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord

Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord   When we welcome others, we welcome the risen Christ.

Scripture “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” Luke 24:27   Reflection We can imagine the inner turmoil of the two disciples who were travelling to Emmaus that morning. A week earlier, they had witnessed the songs of praise for Jesus on Palm Sunday; they had seen Jesus debating with the religious authorities during the week. Along with the Apostles, they must have hoped that Jesus would finally reveal himself to all as the expected Messiah. But by the end of the week, this hope was displaced by despair as they witnessed the final indignity of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death. The disciples must have been emotionally exhausted. They probably felt sorry for themselves, believing that they had been drawn in by Jesus and, in a way, betrayed by him for not fulfilling their ambitions. Then they met a traveler on the road and were surprised that he did not know the news out of Jerusalem, how they had placed all their hopes in Jesus only to have them broken when the authorities arrested Jesus, tortured him, and crucified him. Finally, the disciples shared their bewilderment over the stories they heard from some of the women who told them Jesus’ tomb was empty. The stranger then instructed them about what they did not understand. He reviewed with them the teachings from the Scriptures. He reminded them of what Moses and all the prophets had taught about the Messiah: how he should suffer and then enter into his glory. They came near a village and stopped for an evening meal. The stranger began to move on until the two disciples invited him to share their meal with them. The stranger stayed with them, and when he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, the disciples’ eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus as the risen Lord. At that moment, Jesus disappeared and in amazement the disciples returned to Jerusalem to share their story. Think of the dynamic of this story. After a time of initial conversion and hope, the disciples were disillusioned by what they thought was a failure on the part of Jesus. Then they met the unrecognized Jesus on the road who took them more deeply into the Scriptures to teach them that their initial hopes were misdirected. This exploration of the Scriptures also happens during the Easter Vigil. The celebration is enriched with the readings from the Old Testament. Knowing and understanding the Old Testament is an essential foundation for knowing and understanding Jesus. By exploring the Scriptures with the disciples, Jesus was preparing their hearts for what followed. When the disciples were ready to stop for an evening meal, they invited Jesus to dine with them. This reflects Luke’s central theme of hospitality: in welcoming others, we welcome Jesus. When we break bread and share with others, especially the poor, we are breaking bread with Jesus. The disciples would not have discovered Jesus’ true identity if they had not welcomed him to share a meal. So this sets Jesus’ agenda for us. In reading and contemplating the Scriptures—both the Old and New Testaments—we learn the essential story of Salvation for all. In welcoming one another, especially those most in need, we welcome the risen Jesus Christ in our midst.   Rejoice in the Resurrection Just like stained glass, our lives can only yield their true meaning if seen by God’s divine light. This Easter, we celebrate anew the divine light of the Risen Christ emerging triumphant from the tomb. Let us rejoice in Christ’s triumph! Please enjoy this reflection on Canterbury Cathedral’s stained-glass depiction of the Resurrection.

Pope Francis “Read a passage of the Gospel every day. Remember it well: read a passage from the Gospel every day, and on Sundays go to Communion, to receive Jesus. This is what happened to the disciples of Emmaus: they received the Word; they shared the breaking of bread and from feeling sad and defeated they became joyful.” Regina Caeli, 4 May 2014   Mercy in Action ► Reflect on the Gospel for Easter Sunday Mass with the Sunday Connection. ► Enjoy the Arts & Faith: Easter video.   Prayer We give thanks to you, O Lord, for you are good and your steadfast love endures forever.

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Easter

New Life

There are new member in our big family....

And I have a new god family member , my 20th god family, little Catherine Theia.

He is risen ..Alleluia !

Elects before Baptism

Welcome the neophyte 2016

my youngest god daughter Catherine Theia with her mother Mary

Lenten Moments of Mercy: Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday   God continues to walk with us; may we walk in the newness of life.

Scripture “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3–4   Reflection We now come to understand why the Death of Jesus is different from any other death. Jesus’ Death was not simply another sad example of an unjust killing. In human history and in the daily media reports we have too many examples of such deaths. Jesus’ Death is essentially linked to his Resurrection from the dead. And in his Resurrection we find hope for new life. The Gospel of Luke tells the story of the women who came to the tomb with spices to prepare Jesus for his final resting. They arrived to find an empty tomb. Then two men in shattering bright clothes stood beside them. The men asked the women why they were looking for Jesus among the dead. He was not in the tomb; he had risen. They told the women to remember what Jesus had told them in Galilee: he would be handed over to sinners, crucified, and on the third day would be raised again (Luke 24:6‒8). Then the women remembered Jesus’ words. The Easter Vigil is a night of remembering, with readings from the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Baruch, and Ezekiel. These readings are not proclaimed simply so we can recall the events of the Old Testament. Each reading reminds us—with ever deepening power and insight—that God continues to journey with us today, and this journey comes to fulfillment in the Resurrection. All the pain, suffering, mistakes, sins, successes, and failures of the human family are brought to new life in the risen Jesus. “To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have travelled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future” (Pope Francis, Homily at the Easter Vigil, 30 March 2013). Image: Unknown Artist, The Women at the Tomb; The Descent into Limbo

Pope Francis “Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do.” Homily at the Easter Vigil, 30 March, 2013   Lenten Action ► Pray for those entering the Church tonight at the Easter Vigil. ► Reflect with Arts & Faith: Holy Saturday. ► Pray with a 3-Minute Retreat for the Easter Vigil.   Prayer Create in me, O Lord, a new heart, open to all the possibilities you offer for loving, sharing, and reconciliation.

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God Grace

We should always look at life with awe and wonder being amazed by the beauty that surrounds us.  So many times people miss the beauty of creation because they are so focused on their own plight that they miss what is so evident all around them.  When we take a moment to stop focusing on ourselves and focus more on the beauty that surrounds us I believe we will begin to be more praise filled and grateful for all that we didn’t see before.  Each season that we are blessed enough to see brings with it different sceneries that are beautiful to behold.  The Spring renewing, the summer beauty, the fall colors, the winter whiteness are all differently wonderful to look at, feel and relish in.  We see with every new season the changes that are necessary for this world to continue flowing as God has intended since the beginning of time.  Seeing the change of seasons should encourage our hearts to know that our life is just the same.  New seasons will come into our life as well.  We will overcome the trials and tribulations that try to overwhelm us in one season and in our new season we will find comfort and rest. (Psalm 100:4-5) (Genesis 8:22)

No matter what you may be going through I encourage and challenge you to look past this difficult season in your life and with your eyes of faith see your new coming season that will be brighter and more blessed than you can even think or imagine for yourself.  Trust that the trials of today will serve a purpose for your tomorrows.  They will strengthen you, equip you, motivate you and show you how much resolve you really do have within your spirit.  Don’t count yourself short, don’t think of giving up, but with a quiet confidence keep God’s perfect peace within your heart knowing that He will be there to strengthen you and guide your every step because of your faith and trust in Him.  At the end of our seasons we will see clearly that though our journey wasn’t always a smooth one, we became all the better because of the obstacles, trials and challenges that were in our path and helped to make us the great people of faith we have become. (2 Corinthians 4:15-18) (Job 23:10-11)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to always have a childlike trust in the Lord knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Psalm 61:1-4 “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.”

Psalm 34:11-15 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.”

Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Good Friday

Good Friday   On this holy day, let us reflect on who God is calling us to become.

Scripture “Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’” John 18:37‒38   Reflection In many ways Pilate’s question to Jesus on the first Good Friday is the culmination of all the misunderstandings and deliberate lies that have led to this fateful, sacred day. In the reading from John 18:1—19:42 we see that Jesus’ disciples consistently misunderstood him and did not understand his words and actions until after his Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection. Peter misunderstands Jesus’ intentions and draws a sword, striking out at a temple servant only to be rebuked by Jesus (John 18:11). Understanding Pilate’s question to Jesus means understanding the meaning of his question “What is truth?” (John 18:37). In the common understanding of that question today we would have Pilate asking “Is that a fact?” Whenever we have political debates on mass media the opposition parties always have “fact checkers” whose task it is to discover all the miscues or misremembered facts of a candidate so as to destroy their credibility. But this was not the question Pilate was asking. The question Pilate was really asking was “What is the meaning of life?” This is in line with the philosophical tradition of the Greek and Roman search for truth. Pilate dismissively rejects the word of Jesus, the embodiment of truth standing before him. And part of Pilate’s tragedy is that when he asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews, Jesus replies, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” (John 18:34). Pilate has let others set the agenda for him and does not bring his own question. As an arrogant Roman he thinks he has nothing to learn. This brings us to the questions we ask Jesus on this sacred day. When we reflect on his suffering, Crucifixion, and Death, do we simply observe with gratitude the fact that Jesus has done this for us? Or do we reflect more deeply on the question of what it means to be Christ to one another? Do we understand that Jesus embodies who the Father is calling us to become? What decisions are we being called to make in our lives today so that we can faithfully follow the path Jesus has set out for us? Image: Andrea Mantegna, The Dead Christ (Lamentation of Christ)

Pope Francis “Teach us that the Cross is the way to the Resurrection. Teach us that Good Friday is the road to an Easter of light; teach us that God never forgets a single one of his children and never tires of forgiving us and of embracing us with his infinite mercy. Teach us, also, to never tire of asking for forgiveness, of believing in the boundless mercy of the Father.” Address, Good Friday, 3 April 2015   Lenten Action ► Pray the Stations of the Cross today. ► Reflect with a Good Friday poem by Vinita Hampton Wright. ► Reflect with Arts & Faith: Lent for Good Friday.   Prayer Lord, let your face shine upon us, your servants, that we may follow you in truth and steadfast love.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday   Through Baptism, we are committed to living a life of service.

Scripture “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.”  John 13:3‒5   Reflection As people gathered for meals coming in from dusty roads wearing sandals, it was courtesy on the part of the head of the household to have the lowest slave wash their feet. So when Jesus wrapped a towel around himself and kneeled to wash the feet of the disciples, they were shocked. It was a troubling sign for them. After the great welcome in Jerusalem at the beginning of the week, they were sure that Jesus would claim his rightly owned earthly crown; they were still arguing among themselves as to who was worthy to sit at his right and left hand. Peter, as was usual in the Gospels, spoke for them all in his initial refusal to submit to Jesus’ act of humiliation. If this is behavior that Jesus submitted to himself, what would be his expectations of his followers? Jesus makes it clear that this is exactly what he is proposing for them. If they are unwilling to accept that role in their lives, he would have no part of them. Peter responds, in what is the Gospel of John’s allusion to Baptism, by asking Jesus to wash not only his feet, but his head and hands as well (John 13:8). Jesus’ act is symbolic of the sacrificial Death he is anticipating. Through Baptism Jesus’ followers commit themselves to a life of service to one another. As he began to wash the disciples’ feet, Jesus told them that they would not fully understand what he was doing, but would later understand (John 13:7). As they had not yet witnessed Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, the disciples would not understand the full implications of what Jesus was teaching. There is less excuse for us. As baptized Christians who hear John’s Gospel every year, we know that we are called to a life of service to others. Image: Mosaic in Basilica di San Marco in Venice, Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples

Pope Francis “And with us too, don’t we have to wash each other’s feet day after day? But what does this mean? That all of us must help one another. Sometimes I am angry with someone or other . . . but . . . let it go, let it go, and if he or she asks you a favor, do it.” Homily at the Mass of the Last Supper, 28 March 2013     Prayer Lord, help us as we pray to receive the grace to love one another as you have loved us.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Wednesday of Holy Week

Wednesday of Holy Week   In the midpoint of Holy Week, let us pray that our hearts remain open to God’s love and mercy.   Scripture “Let the oppressed see it and be glad;       you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy,       and does not despise his own that are in bonds.” Psalm 69:32‒33   Reflection It is the middle of Holy Week and the opponents of Jesus are now gathering to close the deal on his betrayal. As we have seen, Judas was the holder of the common purse for Jesus and his followers. He also embezzled from the common fund, so approaching Jesus’ opponents for his own financial gain is not that surprising. Judas asks what it is worth. He is told thirty pieces of silver—a paltry sum, and the amount of compensation paid to one whose slave has been gored by an ox owned by another man (Exodus 21:32). By accepting the offer, Judas puts his trust not in Jesus, but in treacherous commerce. When thinking of the roots of Judas’s betrayal, one need only follow the money. His corruption probably began in small ways, a denarii here, a denarii there. Who would notice? As he was trusted by Jesus to hold the common fund, he abused that trust. And in so many ways it is easy to follow Judas’s lead and see money as the singular route for happiness. Millions of people line up to buy lottery tickets, hoping to win millions—sometimes even billions—and what they think will bring them earthly paradise. The stories of the winners of such giant windfalls belies that hope. Winners have found themselves alienated by family and friends; winners are accused of not sharing the wealth at a fair rate; they are constantly hounded by people who want to sell them the latest financial plan, the latest invention, or the latest scheme to suck the winner dry. Winners are unable to have a normal lifestyle. They cannot go out to eat at their favorite restaurant, go to a movie, or shop at the mall without the constant hounding from envious neighbors who want to strip them clean. Money given generously to younger members of families has been spent on recreational drugs leading to overdoses and death. The stress has led to divorce in decades-old marriages. Money has not brought them freedom and paradise but a golden cage. So many “winners” are discovering what Judas ultimately discovered: “In a heart possessed by wealth, there isn’t much room for faith: everything is involved with wealth, there is no room for faith” (Pope Francis, Angelus, 2 March 2014). Lacking faith, and having no room in his heart to ask for love and forgiveness, Judas could not live in the insane world his distorted desires had led him to. Pope Francis “Judas wasn’t the one who sinned the most . . . I don’t know who was the most sinful. . . . Poor Judas is that one who closed himself to love and this is why he became a traitor. . . . All of the Apostles fled at the difficult moment of the Passion, and they left Jesus alone. They are all sinners.” General Audience, 27 March 2013     Prayer Lord, let me praise your name, for in your love you revive my heart.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Tuesday of Holy Week

Tuesday of Holy Week   During Holy Week, let us set aside our agendas and follow Jesus.

Scripture “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.’” John 13:36     Reflection Peter wanted to be a hero. He followed Jesus over a period of years, and he witnessed the excitement that greeted Jesus when he arrived in Jerusalem. Peter and the rest of the disciples saw that things were coming to a conclusion. They dreamed of the day when Jesus would claim his throne, defeat those they saw as his enemies, and they would emerge victorious at his side. They had an agenda all set for Jesus to follow. In the reading from the Gospel of John there is a consistent theme of the disciples misunderstanding what is going on. They are uncertain of whom Jesus was speaking about when he said that one of them would betray him. Even after Jesus gives the beloved disciple a hint as to who it would be by sharing a piece of bread with Judas and sending him on his way, they still do not understand. The disciples believe that Jesus was sending him on an errand to buy supplies for the feast, or perhaps to bring money to the poor (John13:29). Peter asks Jesus where he was going, and Jesus tells him that it is to a place that Peter cannot yet follow. This touches Peter’s pride—after all, he had insisted that he would lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus responds with the prediction attested to in all the Gospels: that before the dawn, Peter would betray him. Peter displays a kind of arrogance that we all share: somehow, we think that we can dictate to Jesus what his agenda should be. Peter said he was willing to give up his life. Just as Jesus had asked Peter to lay his life down for him, Jesus asks us to do the same. Jesus asks us to to give away our lives by loving one another without limits.

Pope Francis “Living Holy Week means entering ever more deeply into the logic of God, into the logic of the Cross, which is not primarily that of suffering and death, but rather that of love and of the gift of self which brings life.”  General Audience, March 27, 2013   Lenten Action ► Pray with the Seven Last Words of Jesus.   Prayer Rescue us, O Lord, from the depth of our misunderstanding so we can live the life of love you are calling us to.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Monday of Holy Week

Monday of Holy Week   Holy Week is a time to celebrate the beauty of the Lord.

Scripture “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,        my chosen, in whom my soul delights;    I have put my spirit upon him;       he will bring forth justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1      Reflection Six days before Passover, Jesus is in Bethany eating at the home of Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary. Mary on this occasion pours a pound of pure nard, a costly perfume, on the feet of Jesus and dries them with her hair. Judas Iscariot objects saying that the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii and the proceeds given to the poor. A denarii was a day’s wage, and the equivalent price for the nard in today’s terms would be about $30,000. We see two radical differences in attitude between Mary and Judas. Mary sees in Jesus the infinite beauty of him as a person, and her extravagant gift celebrates his presence in her life. Judas, whom the Gospel of John identifies as an embezzler of the common purse (John 12:6), sees Jesus as a commodity. He follows Jesus as a source of financial gain. Were he to get a hold of 300 denarii, it would not be for the benefit of the poor but for his own. In today’s world Judas would be among those who do not believe they can be true ministers of Jesus without their private jet transportation. This week we will be celebrating Jesus’ final journey on earth with some of the most beautiful liturgies and music of the liturgical year. And it is most appropriate that we do so. The Church today is the conservator of much of the beauty of the Christian tradition. Priceless paintings, chapels, and sculptures enrich places of worship for all to see and reflect upon. There are those who say these priceless objects should be sold so that the money can be given to the poor. If this is done, these beautiful artifacts would disappear into private collections; this world of beauty would be the preserve of the wealthy and connected and no longer enrich us all. In response to Judas’s criticism, Jesus reminds us that Mary is celebrating the beauty of his person, who will soon disappear. The responsibility for caring for the poor is ongoing, and there is no contradiction between celebrating the precious moments and the Christian vocation of caring for those who are poor. Quite the contrary—the celebrations of Holy Week energize us in our vocation of mercy.

Pope Francis “Jesus was like a commodity; he was sold. He was sold at that moment . . . and has also very frequently been sold in the market of history, in the market of life, in the market of our lives. When we opt for thirty pieces of silver, we set Jesus aside.” Morning Meditation, 27 March 2013   Prayer Be with us, O Lord, this week as we wait to see your beauty and goodness in the land of the living.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion   As we walk with Jesus during Holy Week, may we also walk with those who are in need.

Scripture “But you, O LORD, do not be far away!        O my help, come quickly to my aid!” Psalm 22:19   Reflection We are entering into the most sacred week of the liturgical year during which we celebrate Jesus’ final days. The journey begins with shouts of praise as Jesus enters Jerusalem and is welcomed by exultant crowds. This only serves to heighten the tension between Jesus and his critics, who work all the harder to bring him down. As he goes through the week, Jesus teaches in the temple arena, he scatters the money lenders, and he challenges the religious authorities. Jesus has long known what would be the result of his mission, but he faces his critics with courage. This is the culminating path of his journey in mercy. At the beginning of the week, Jesus seems to have all the friends that he needs. But as the week goes on, the crowds become silent, his disciples become more nervous, and Judas plots with the leaders in the temple to betray him. By the end of the week, Jesus will find few companions on this road of mercy as he prepares to die on our behalf. Not one of us will end this journey of life without suffering, pain, and death. And there are those in our lives who daily suffer the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain of disabilities, loss of motor function, or psychological loneliness. These conditions do not have an easy fix; there is no magic pill that will cure all. With their ongoing issues, it can be easy for us to be impatient with them, not to call them, or not to send a note to indicate that we are willing companions on their way of the cross. Because we fear being inconvenienced, we distance ourselves through indifference rather than accompanying them with mercy in the midst of their suffering. This week we will accompany Jesus on his journey of mercy. By taking a more active participation with those in our lives who are in need, we will grow in the grace of mercy won for us by Jesus this Holy Week. Image: Wilhelm Morgner, Entry of Christ into Jerusalem

Pope Francis “Living Holy Week, following Jesus not only with the emotion of the heart; living Holy Week, following Jesus means learning to come out of ourselves . . . in order to go to meet others, to go towards the outskirts of existence, to be the first to take a step towards our brothers and our sisters, especially those who are the most distant, those who are forgotten, those who are most in need of understanding, comfort, and help.” General Audience, 27 March 2013   Lenten Action ► Make a commitment to set aside specific time for prayer each day this Holy Week. ► Reflect on this Sunday’s Gospel with Arts & Faith: Lent and the Sunday Connection. ► Learn more about Holy Week with articles, videos, and prayers.    Prayer Lord Jesus, as you humbled yourself for our sake, help me to walk in humility and truth with my family and neighbors.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent Solemnity of St. Joseph   St. Joseph models and shows us how to be merciful toward others.

Scripture “Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.” Matthew 1:19, 24   Reflection In the reflections of the past few days we have seen increasing hostility toward Jesus among those who refused to see him for who he truly was, the Son of God. They based their criticism on their rigid understanding of the Scriptures and refused to see in Jesus the one who fulfilled the intention of the Law. In the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel, we see Joseph facing the same issues. Joseph was betrothed to Mary. While he had not yet taken her into his home, in the custom of the time, they could legitimately have marital relations, and any children from their union would have been accepted as legitimate. So Mary’s pregnancy was an embarrassment to Joseph. Joseph was a faithful man and a true observer of the Law. But as a merciful man, he wished to quietly end the marital contract with Mary so as to cause the least embarrassment. In his Gospel, Matthew sees Joseph as being the first man living the tension between understanding the Law and the new life that God is bringing in Jesus. When Joseph listens to the angel revealing the truth of Jesus’ coming and responds wholeheartedly, he is living the heart of the Law and not its letter. He is already living out the higher righteousness of the Kingdom of God (Matthew5:20). Assessing the demands of the Law against obedience to the Revelation of God, Joseph lets go of his previous understanding of the Scriptures to obey the living voice of God. He takes Mary into his home and becomes the protector of the Holy Family. In this way he models for us what it means to live in God’s mercy toward others rather than in judgment over them.

Pope Francis “Joseph is a ‘protector’ because he is able to hear God’s voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically, he is in touch with his surroundings, he can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God’s call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!” Homily, 19 March 2013   Lenten Action ► Learn more about St. Joseph. ► Read “Contemplating with Joseph” at Creighton University’s Online Ministries site. ► Go back and reflect on something that particularly touched you this fifth week of Lent.   Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday   Prayer St. Joseph, intercede for us that we may see others in terms of mercy instead of judgment.

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God Grace

What do you think about when you hear the word grace?

Most people tend to think about God’s grace as something that’s exclusively connected to our salvation. But grace is about so much more than how we come to Christ.

In fact, our entire Christian walk must be fueled by the grace of God!

God’s grace is real and powerful in our lives. There’s nothing we can do that doesn’t ultimately come from his grace. Yes, grace saves us, but God also spreads it throughout our lives...

• Grace forgives us. (Isaiah 43:25) Though we don’t deserve it, God wipes our slate clean by his grace.
• Grace sustains us. (Philippians 2:13) God will never ask us to do anything he doesn’t give us the ability and the power to do. That power and ability is called grace.
• Grace heals us. (Psalm 147:3) God heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounds.
• Grace liberates us. (Matthew 11:28-30) Our relationship with Jesus isn’t about what we do. Instead it’s about resting in what the Lord has already done. If your Christian life is not a life of resting in Christ, you’re moving into legalism.
• Grace gives us talents. (Romans 12:6) God has given each one of us the ability to do something well, and we’re to use those abilities for him.
• Grace transforms us. (Romans 12:2) Through his grace, God makes us new through the renewing of our mind.
• Grace matures us. (2 Peter 3:18) God’s work of making us more like Jesus happens not because we’ve earned it, but by the grace of God.

The Bible says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” Philippians 2:13NLT. With God’s grace, we can live a life of joy!

http://rickwarren.org/pages/how-you-can-experience-god-s-grace-every-day/

Lenten Moments of Mercy: Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent St. Cyril of Jerusalem   Lent reminds us that the darkness of pain and tragedy cannot overcome the light of God’s grace.

Scripture “He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.” John 10:40‒42   Reflection In today’s readings from Jeremiah 20:10‒13 and John 10:31‒42 we see increased hostility towards the prophet and Jesus in response to their witness to God. Jeremiah heard whispers around him: “‘Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ / All my close friends / are watching for me to stumble. / ‘Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, / and take our revenge on him’” (Jeremiah 20:10). Similarly, the religious authorities were increasingly belligerent against Jesus. They did not celebrate his healing acts. They took up stones to stone him to death (John 10:31). Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” (John 10:32). He told them that if they do not believe his words, believe in the works that have been performed in the Father’s name: “But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:38). The reaction of the authorities was to try to put Jesus to death. But he eluded them as his hour had not yet come. Jesus returned to Galilee where his ministry began. People recalled the teaching of John the Baptist and what he had prophesied about Jesus. They saw that in Jesus, John’s prophesies had been fulfilled and they came to have faith. The headlines that we read every day show that the message and person of Jesus Christ are ignored. Christians are persecuted throughout the world. There is increasing pressure in our own society to set aside Christian values by people who consider them irrelevant. John’s Gospel shows us that even in the midst of pain and human tragedy darkness has not yet overcome God’s grace.

Pope Francis “The evils of our world—and those of the Church—must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervor. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow. With the eyes of faith, we can see the light which the Holy Spirit always radiates in the midst of darkness, never forgetting that ‘where sin increased, grace has abounded all the more’ (Rom 5:20).” Joy of the Gospel #84   Lenten Action ► Watch a video meditation on Lent by Vinita Hampton Wright. ► Take some time to consider your plan for living Holy Week, which beginson Sunday. Review the times for local observances of Palm Sunday, HolyThursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday and participate.   Prayer Lord, be our rock, our fortress, our deliverer as we take refuge in you.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent Feast of St. Patrick   Christ always walks with us, within us, behind us, before us, and beside us.

Scripture Seek the LORD and his strength;             seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done,             his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered. Psalm 105:4‒5     Reflection St. Patrick (c 389–c 461) was born to a Roman aristocratic family in Britain. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland. He was sold to a pagan family and tended sheep as a slave for six years. Tending sheep year after year gave him plenty of time to think and reflect on his life. During his captivity, he started to pray and he opened his heart to God. Patrick realized that God loved him even as he suffered the hard life of a slave. With God's help, Patrick managed to escape his captivity and returned to his family in Britain. When at home Patrick could not forget Ireland. He recounted a vision he had to return as a missionary:   [T]here, in a vision of the night, I saw a man whose name was Victoricus coming as if from Ireland with innumerable letters, and he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the letter: “The Voice of the Irish;” and as I was reading the beginning of the letter I seemed at that moment to hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut which is near the western sea, and they were crying as if with one voice: “We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.”   Patrick studied for the priesthood, and was later ordained a bishop. He returned to Ireland but his experience was not a triumphal procession or parade. He followed the Way of the Cross. He lived in poverty and had no legal protection as he walked between the warring tribes and clans. He was beaten, robbed, and imprisoned in chains. He never lost his joyful faith and trust in Christ whom he honored in a prayer we know as “The Breastplate of St. Patrick:”   Christ be with me, Christ within me Christ behind me, Christ before me Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Pope Francis “The cross shows us a different way of measuring success. Ours is to plant the seeds: God sees to the fruits of our labors. And if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and produce no fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus . . . and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, the failure of the cross.” Homily, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 24 September 2015   Lenten Action ► Pray “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” today. ► Share the story of St. Patrick with a child in your life.   Prayer St. Patrick, through your intercession, help us to discover the living Christ so we may be courageous followers of the Way of the Cross.

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Lenten Moments of Mercy: Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent   During the penitential season of Lent, let us recognize the true face of Jesus Christ.

Scripture “‘Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?’” Daniel 3:15   Reflection The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is usually told with a sense of wonder that the three men faithful to God are thrown into a fiery furnace and through the intervention of God survive. It is a tale of hope told to a people who are in exile facing the realities of oppression in their daily lives. But first it is a story of Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance. The people of Babylon were not only to bow down to the emperor’s person, but also to his image. They were to process before his statue with full musical accompaniment and fall down and worship before his statue. True to their Jewish faith, the three young men refused to bow down to the idols. Jesus also called his disciples to recognize him as the true Son of the Father: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me” (John 8:42). But an issue for Christians today is that all too often we have built arrogant, idolatrous images with the face of Jesus. Wars have too often been fought in the name of a “patriotic” or “muscular Christianity” which directly contradicts the teaching of Jesus. In this instance Christians are called to reflect on who they are offering worship to: the false idol of bombing our way to “peace,” or following Jesus’ call of entering into a true dialogue with those identified as “enemies” so that the dignity of each person is upheld.

Pope Francis “It makes me think one thing: people, leaders, entrepreneurs who call themselves Christians, and manufacture arms! This gives rise to some mistrust: they call themselves Christians! ‘No, no, Father, I don’t manufacture them, no, no. . . .  I only have my savings, my investments in arms factories.’ Ah! And why? ‘Because the interest is somewhat higher. . .’ And being two-faced is common currency today: saying something and doing another. Hypocrisy.” Address to the Children and Young People of Turin, 21 June 2015   Lenten Action ► Review Pope Francis’s Message on the World Day of Peace. ► Pray with an Examen for this Fifth Week of Lent.   Prayer Lord, help us to be one of those who hear your word and hold it fast in an honest and true heart with patient endurance.

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