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February 28th, 2010 - Second Sunday of Lent
My Dear People,
The Transfiguration is a central
revelation in Luke's Gospel. For Jesus to appear between Moses and
Elijah, was an extremely powerful endorsement from the Old Testament
figureheads. Moses represents the Law. Elijah represents the major and
minor Prophets of the Old Testament. As they were preparing to leave,
Peter asks if the trio was staying. While Peter was still speaking, a
cloud descended from above and declares, "This is my Beloved Son;
listen to Him." Suddenly, the cloud parted, and Jesus stood
there, alone. In awe, the Apostles fell silent. Jesus then asks them
not to say anything about the event, until after His Resurrection from
the dead. How were the Apostles to understand this event? Why did
Jesus ask for silence? When were they going to see Jesus die? By
asking these questions, the Apostles were on their way to learning
about the mysteries of Jesus' life. Little did they understand these
events. It would not be until the infusion of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost, that they would come to understand their significance. What
Jesus reveals to the Apostles, He reveals to the Church. That is
all of US. As it was for the Apostles, so it is for His people. Jesus
exposes Himself to you and I. Jesus wants us to know He is the LAW,
Jesus wants us to know He is the PROPHET. Jesus died and rose from the
dead, to save us from eternal death. It is why He was revealed in
Glory before the Suffering of His crucifixion. Allow Jesus to raise
you up and save your from eternal death this Lent.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
May
our Lord save you and raise you up...May He free you from all of your
SINS.
February 21st, 2010 - First Sunday of Lent
My Dear People,
The three temptations of Christ represent
the trials we too will undergo during Lent; the world, the flesh, and
the evil one. The battle against sin can only be understood within the
context of the author of sin, satan. God did not create death. He is
life. God did not create vice. He is virtue. God did not create
darkness. He is light. Jesus took on all our temptations to teach us
how to reject sin, and embrace holiness. We need to learn that we are
a people sacred to God. Those who do not know their sin, do not fully
know their God. Jesus, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity
encountered sin for us. Jesus covered us with His Most Precious Blood.
He stands in the gap as we struggle with the world, the flesh and the
evil one. Without Our Lord, we would always fail. Lent is learning
about surrendering our sin to the Lord. He is our only Master. If you
want to get serious about Lent, you need to get serious about your
sin. The Confessional is the battleground for conquering sin. When is
the last time you went into battle against sin? When is the last time
you made a good and holy confession? There is not better time to
confess your sin, than during this Holy season of Lent.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
May
we joyfully bring our first fruits to the Lord, sharing our time,
talent, and treasures out of gratitude for all the blessing that God
has bestowed upon us.
February 14th, 2010 - 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
Forty days and forty nights make up he
bulk of Lent. A famous comedian once said, "I do not know why
they call it a fast, when it goes so darn slow." Fasting is an
essential key to the Lenten experience. What is the purpose of
fasting? It teaches us patience. It teaches us discipline. It teaches
us the value of mortification. All three are so badly needed in our
Church today. Jesus chose to fast from all food for 40 days. At the
end of the fast, Satan manifested himself in order to tempt Our Lord.
He offered him; control, praise and power. Everyone of these are
eagerly sought by contemporary man.
Who wouldn't want complete control of your own life and that of
others? Who doesn't like to seek the praise and attention of others?
Who wouldn't want an endless supply of money? These Satan has to
offer, because he has temporal authority right now, over the things of
the Earth. Fasting is an essential defense against Satan. He hates our
fasting, especially for the sake of our growth in the Holy Spirit.
Church law requires those between the ages of 18 and 59 to fast in
between meals, and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
All Fridays during Lent require us to abstain form meat. And in the
Catechism, it indicates that we abstain form meat on all of the other
Fridays of the year, unless you perform and act of charity of mercy in
its place. These acts include working at the soup kitchen, working in
a place taking care of the poor like the Agape House, and other acts
of mercy. Hardly ever, do I hear of Catholics keeping the latter
discipline. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call to Him while He
is still near. Run to Him in times of trial and tribulation. And know
that He waits for all of us to return fully to HIM.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
May
we open our hearts to the poor and lovingly share our blessing with
all of God's needy children.
February 5th, 2010 - 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
God speaks very powerfully through the flesh. When we look at Jesus'
suffering upon the Holy Cross, we see just how much He loves us. In
His flesh, Jesus was nailed to the Cross; and to our sins. Through His
Holy Wounds, we are healed. As teacher and prophet, Jesus taught
through the flesh. Every time Our Lord laid hands upon the blind,
deaf, and dumb, they were healed. The crippled walked. The possessed
were set free from demons. The blind were given sight. So at the
beginning of Our Lord's ministry, we find Jesus reaching out to the
flesh. One by one, He called the Apostles to come forth. In Luke's
Gospel, we find Jesus reaching out to the flesh, in order to heal the
spirit. When Peter is called by Christ, he deems himself unworthy.
Peter declares, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful
man." Peter was aware of the sins of the flesh. He thought to
himself, "How can I serve to forgive sin, when I am so full of
sin myself?" It was to this sinful man, Peter, that Jesus called
forth to seek the lost, Jesus tells Peter. "Do not be afraid,
from now on you will be seeking out other sinful men." Sometimes,
like Peter we feel unworthy to serve the Lord. Our shortcomings are
not a problem for Jesus. Our lack of faith and trust in Jesus, is a
problem. Without that faith, Jesus cannot work through us. Be like
Peter. Confess your sins. Profess your faith in Jesus. And be ready to
serve the Lord.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
May
we eagerly respond. "Here I am, Lord." Whenever we hear God
call upon us to be His hands and feet here on earth.
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