Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary

Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality

MASS READINGS AND COMMENTARY | JUNE 11, 2020

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

Reading 1 ACTS 11:21B-26; 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

Responsorial Psalm 98: 1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6

R. (see 2b)  The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Alleluia JN 13:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 5:20-26 

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church

6 While not being formally identified with them, catechesis is built on a certain number of elements of the Church’s pastoral mission which have a catechetical aspect, that prepare for catechesis, or spring from it. They are: the initial proclamation of the Gospel or missionary preaching to arouse faith; examination of the reasons for belief; experience of Christian living; celebration of the sacraments; integration into the ecclesial community; and apostolic and missionary witness.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11TH Mt. 5: 20-26 “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

  • Do you want to go to Heaven? Or do you want to go to Hell? No one ever says they want to go to hell! And in today’s secular world where immorality seems to be the norm, where it’s institutionalized in law, likely no one thinks they’re going to hell, if they even believe in it!
  • Jesus makes it clear that unless our righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, we will not enter the Kingdom of heaven – and there is only one other place to go! In point of fact, Jesus talks more about the fires of Gehenna (hell) than about heaven in the Scriptures. Why? He wants us to believe hell exists and He doesn’t want us to go there!
  • The choice is ours. God doesn’t send anyone to hell, we send ourselves! We choose one or the other by how we live our life on earth. Either a place of indescribable beauty, peace, love, and joy for all eternity OR a place of eternal fire, indescribable suffering, hatred, and blasphemies, tormented by demons and convicted by our own conscience!
  • This is Our Lord’s message in the Gospel today. Those who forgive others and reconcile will have bliss… those who refuse to forgive and reconcile will have blisters! If it is not possible or not safe to forgive and reconcile with someone in person, we must forgive and reconcile with them sincerely in our heart; the Lord who can read our most hidden desires and intentions will know.
  • For men this is impossible… for God all things are possible! Jesus came to earth as Savior! Even the Apostles questioned Jesus. Peter asked Him, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, ‘”I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Mt. 18:21-22) Bible scholars agree, what Jesus meant by seventy-seven times is limitless times, in other words, always!! How can we hope to do this in our human weakness?
  • The Lord floods our soul with grace in Baptism and sustains us on our journey to heaven through the Sacraments, the teachings of His holy Church under the guidance of our Holy Father and good priests, our Blessed Mother Mary, our guardian angel, and all the angels and saints in Heaven!
  • Indeed, St. Paul points out that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses! “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (Heb. 12:1-3)
  • The Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist, in particular, speed us on our way to heaven if we receive them frequently and fervently! In Confession, Jesus forgives our sins, even our failure to forgive! But it is not enough simply to confess our lack of forgiveness, we still have to forgive and reconcile with that person! This is called making reparation for our sins. If we break a neighbor’s window we have to apologize, but we also have to replace the window!
  • The good news is that this great Sacrament also confers the grace to forgive and reconcile with our brother and sister – that is to say, with everyone, for God is Creator and Father of all! Jesus shows us mercy first by lavishing His mercy on us in the Sacrament of Confession, restoring and deepening our friendship with Him!
  • Holy Communion is an extension of Jesus’ Mercy. He gives us His own Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist to nourish and strengthen us on the journey to our heavenly home. However, even more important, by partaking of Holy Communion we are sharing in the Divine life and love of the Blessed Trinity! When we receive Holy Communion worthily we receive a spiritual heart transplant – we receive the Heart of Christ! We also put on the mind of Christ! Saint Paul says, “We have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:16) We become one with the Blessed Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • Finally, it is important to remember that no one can say or do anything to us that the Lord has not ordained from all eternity for our salvation, our purification, and our perfection! All is within His Divine Providence. We have only to submit to His will in holy obedience each day and in every circumstance, to stay on the course that leads us straight to the Heart of Jesus and heaven!
  • It is His will that we be saved! It is His will that we spend all eternity with Him in the peace and joy of the Holy Trinity, our Blessed Mother, and all the Angels and Saints! All we have to do is will it – He’ll do the rest!
  • Every day and in every circumstance, I have a choice. His stairway to Heaven or my highway to hell? Which will it be? My way? Or His way?
  • “God’s heart calls to our hearts, inviting us to come out of ourselves, to forsake our human certainties, to trust in Him and, by following His example, to make ourselves a gift of unbounded love.”  (Pope Benedict XVI)  

CALL TO HOLINESS   By St. Louis de Montfort

Chosen soul, living image of God and redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, God wants you to become holy like Him in this life, and glorious like Him in the next. 

It is certain that growth in the holiness of God is your vocation. All your thoughts, words, actions, everything you suffer or undertake must lead you toward that end.  Otherwise you are resisting God in not doing the work for which He created you and for which He is even now keeping you in being. 

What a marvelous transformation is possible! Dust into light, uncleanness into purity, sinfulness into holiness, creature being taken up into Creator! A marvelous work, I repeat, so difficult in itself, and even impossible for a mere creature to bring about, for only God can accomplish it by giving His grace abundantly and in an extraordinary manner. The very creation of the universe is not as great an achievement as this.

Chosen soul, how will you bring this about? What steps will you take to reach the high level to which God is calling you? The means of holiness and salvation are known to everybody, since they are found in the Gospel; the masters of the spiritual life have explained them; the Saints have practiced them and shown how essential they are for those who wish to be saved and attain perfection. These means are: sincere humility, unceasing prayer, complete self-denial, abandonment to Divine Providence, and obedience to the will of God.

 

 

 

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MASS READINGS AND COMMENTARY | JUNE 10, 2020

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 1 KGS 18:20-39 

Ahab sent to all the children of Israel
and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel.

Elijah appealed to all the people and said,
“How long will you straddle the issue?
If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.”
The people, however, did not answer him.
So Elijah said to the people,
“I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD,
and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
Give us two young bulls.
Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood,
but start no fire.
I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood,
but shall start no fire.
You shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD.
The God who answers with fire is God.”
All the people answered, “Agreed!”

Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal,
“Choose one young bull and prepare it first,
for there are more of you.
Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire.”
Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it
and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying,
“Answer us, Baal!”
But there was no sound, and no one answering.
And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.
When it was noon, Elijah taunted them:
“Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating,
or may have retired, or may be on a journey.
Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears,
as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.
Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state
until the time for offering sacrifice.
But there was not a sound;
no one answered, and no one was listening.

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.”
When the people had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD
that had been destroyed.
He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob,
to whom the LORD had said, “Your name shall be Israel.”
He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones,
and made a trench around the altar
large enough for two measures of grain.
When he had arranged the wood,
he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood.
“Fill four jars with water,” he said,
“and pour it over the burnt offering and over the wood.”
“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he said,
and they did it a third time.
The water flowed around the altar,
and the trench was filled with the water.

At the time for offering sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah came forward and said,
“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
let it be known this day that you are God in Israel
and that I am your servant
and have done all these things by your command.
Answer me, LORD!
Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God
and that you have brought them back to their senses.”
The LORD’s fire came down
and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust,
and it lapped up the water in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said,
“The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”

Responsorial Psalm 16:1B-2AB, 4, 5AB AND 8, 11 

R. (1b) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Alleluia PS 25:4B, 5A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Teach me your paths, my God,
and guide me in your truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 5: 17-19 

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

5 “Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life.”

 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH      Mt. 5: 17-19   “Do you think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law.”

1. The Old Testament’s moral precepts – the law promulgated by Moses and upheld by the prophets – are based on the natural law and are to be obeyed Jesus says “until heaven and earth pass away!” Jesus not only upholds these commandments but gives greater weight and deeper meaning to them! He implements a new level of covenant righteousness that stretches beyond the boundaries of the Old Covenant in two ways.

2. Outwardly, the New Covenant stretches beyond the nation of Israel to all nations in the kingdom of His Church on earth. Inwardly, it penetrates to the heart, it reaches within to govern our interior life according to an elevated standard of holiness. The Old Covenant formed virtuous citizens in Israel. The New Covenant generates saints – the universal call to holiness in the one, true Church established by Jesus Christ.

3. This New Covenant call to holiness is the theme of Matthew Chapter 5 that we have been praying with this week – Christ’s call to live the Beatitudes, to become the light of the world, and today, to strive for deeper purification and conversion of heart!

4. “You have heard it said…  You shall not kill. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment!”  

Everyone gets angry at times. The question is what do we do with our anger? Do we nurse anger and resentment in our heart and thoughts until we finally lash out in our words and actions? Or do we resist and act against the anger – Ignatian agere contra. The key is self-awareness. Recognize the signs. Act instead of react. As soon as you feel agitated, as soon as you feel your temper rising, walk away from the person or situation without saying anything. Then act intensely against the anger by taking an opposite action. Some helpful suggestions. Let’s call them the eight beatitudes of mercy.

  • Pray a fervent Act of Contrition, calling to mind your many sins and how often God has forgiven you. Beg for the grace to forgive others.
  • Recall and pray the first words Jesus spoke as He hung on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34)
  • Pray the Our Father slowly, thinking about the words, especially these words, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
  • Pray fervent Hail Marys, even Rosaries for this person and beg for Mary’s intercession – there are two hearts that need to be changed.
  • Walk in the steps of the saints; when you feel antagonism towards a person, act against your feelings by performing acts of kindness for them. This is not hypocrisy, this is heroic virtue! If you continue in this way, your feelings will follow your actions and you will begin to have compassion for this person.
  • If you are still struggling, go to Mother Mary with this heartfelt prayer: “Mother, you must give me your Heart to love them with, for my heart is too small.” I have never known this prayer to fail.
  • Remember, we can never know another person’s heart – what life experiences have formed them – what wounds they bear, what terrors and demons they are fighting inside – what troubles they are experiencing in their life right now.
  • Consider that God may have brought this person into your life because they need prayers and He knows you are a person of prayer! Adopt them as your spiritual child and pray every day for their conversion and eternal salvation. You may be the only person praying for them. They will never know or thank you here, but they will be eternally grateful when you both reach heaven, for to save another is to save yourself as well.

5. “You have heard it said…  You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart!” 

Our heart belongs to the One who created us. Are we serious about guarding our heart? Is our heart pure and chaste? We are to be chaste even in marriage. The marital act is to be unitive and fruitful for one purpose – the spouses helping each other and their children to get to heaven. Jesus speaks of this truth, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”(Mt. 22:33) Are we chaste in our thoughts? In our desires? In what we see and hear? In our words and actions? In the way we dress and comport ourselves? The surest way to preserve a pure and chaste heart is to ask Jesus and Mary to walk on either side of us, St. Joseph to walk in front of us, our guardian angel to walk behind us, at all times

6. “You have heard it said…  Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery!” 

An Examen for married couples. Do you view the Sacrament of Marriage as sacred and indissoluble? Do you value and protect your marriage? Do you pray for your spouse and your marriage daily? Do you frequent the Sacrament of Confession and offer your Mass and Holy Communion for your marriage and family? Do you encourage the daily family Rosary? Do you support and encourage your spouse? Do you refrain from complaining about your spouse? Do you regularly sit down as a couple and discuss what is going on in your marriage and family life? Do you ask for forgiveness and freely give forgiveness? Do you seek counsel from our priests to help resolve marriage and family difficulties? And if necessary, seek marriage counseling to preserve your marriage? In other words, are you willing to fight for your marriage? When you have done all you can, leave the rest in God’s hands, and you will find peace

7. “You have heard it said…  An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.”

It takes deep prayer and many acts of penance to bear all things silently for the love of Christ crucified! May we beg for the grace! Then join all we suffer to the Passion and death of Christ on the cross in reparation for our sins and the sins of others, and the salvation of many souls!

8, “You have heard it said…  You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your heavenly Father!”  

Holiness is not as far away as we may think. We have all had moments when we looked on our enemy, on the one who hated us, the one who hurt us, and by the grace of God forgave them and prayed for them with a sincere and pure heart. In that moment, we were children of our heavenly Father, we were perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect! That can be every moment in our lives, if we beg for the grace and will it!

JMJ

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MASS READINGS AND COMMENTARY | JUNE 9, 2020

 

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 1 KGS 17:7-16

The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry,
because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to Elijah: 
“Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have designated a widow there to provide for you.”
He left and went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
“Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives, 
I have nothing baked;
there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. 
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Responsorial Psalm PS 4:2-3, 4-5,7B-8   

R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?
Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
Tremble, and sin not;
reflect, upon your beds, in silence. 
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart,
more than when grain and wine abound.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

Alleluia MT 5:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others
That they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 5:13-16  

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis

4 Quite early on, the name catechesis was given to the totality of the Church’s efforts to make disciples, to help men believe that Jesus is the Son of God so that believing they might have life in his name, and to educate and instruct them in this life, thus building up the body of Christ.

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 9TH Mt. 5: 13-16 “You are the light of the world. Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

  • Light – what a lovely thing light is. There is no shining light in all creation lovelier than the Blessed Virgin Mary! She alone is the Immaculate Conception, preserved from original sin at the moment of her conception in the womb of Saint Anne and preserved from the stain of sin her whole life! In Mary’s pure light, we see clearly the darkness in ourselves. Thus the poet Wordsworth called Mary “our tainted nature’s solitary boast!”
  • The Angel Gabriel greeted her, “Hail Mary, full of grace!” (Lk. 1:28) She was the first light of dawn dispelling the darkness, giving way to the refulgence of the Light of the Son of God! As the moon reflects the light of the sun, Mary is the perfect reflection of the Son of God. Her presence gives warmth to hearts grown cold, healing to hearts that are wounded, valor to the faint-hearted, and the Christ Light to souls darkened by sin.
  • The Light of Christ first shone forth from the womb of Mary. Through Mary, the Star proclaiming Christ’s birth first penetrated the womb of Elizabeth, causing the baby within her to leap for joy! The light guiding us through the tempests and storms of life is Mary, Star of the Sea! The light in the window welcoming us home is the light of Mary’s motherly love for each one of us, shining from our true home in her Immaculate Heart where she forms her children in the image and likeness of her Divine Son, Jesus.
  • The Light of Christ that enlightens our minds first illumined the mind of Mary. When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus communicated His inscrutable wisdom and truth to Mary, which she imparts to those who fervently ask for it, freeing them from the darkness of ignorance and error, the lies and deceits of the enemy. (As revealed in The Three Hail Marys devotion given to Saint Mechtilde by the Blessed Virgin Mary.)
  • Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, stood at the foot of the cross and willingly suffered all the agonies of her Son’s Passion and death for love of us and for our salvation. St. Louis de Montfort says that Mary is a Martyr because all that Jesus suffered in His Passion and death on the cross, Mary suffered in her Immaculate Heart.
  • Mary wants to comfort and console us. She wants us to bring our fears and anxieties to her. She wants us to find rest in her Immaculate Heart and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She assures us of the eternal value of every tear we shed for our salvation and the salvation of many others. And that even now, our Good God is working everything for our good and the good of those we love.
  • The saints say that in heaven our only regret will be that we didn’t suffer more, so that even more souls could be saved. “When it is all over you will not regret having suffered; rather you will regret having suffered so little, and suffered that little so badly.” (St. Sebastian Valfre)
  • The Light begins with Jesus and Mary. They shed their light upon us – we shed the light of Jesus and Mary upon others – who then shed the light upon still others! Thus the circle of light keeps expanding until someday the whole world will bask in the Light and Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Mary, Star of the Sea… From a homily of St. Bernard of Clairvaux  

If squalls of temptations arise, or you fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary. If you are tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary. If anger or avarice, or the desires of the flesh, dash against the ship of your soul, turn your eyes towards Mary. If troubled by the enormity of your crimes, ashamed of your guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, and you begin to sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary. In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her be ever on your lips, ever in your heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life.

Following her, you will not stray. Invoking her, you will not despair. Thinking of her, you will not wander. Upheld by her, you will not fall. Shielded by her, you will not fear. Guided by her, you will not grow weary. Favored by her, you will reach the goal. And thus you will experience in yourself how good is that saying: And the Virgin’s name was Mary!

 

 

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MASS READINGS AND COMMENTARY | JUNE 8, 2020

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 KGS 17: 1-6 

Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab:
“As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve,
during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word.”
The LORD then said to Elijah:
“Leave here, go east
and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
You shall drink of the stream,
and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.”
So he left and did as the LORD had commanded.
He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,
and bread and meat in the evening,
and he drank from the stream.

Responsorial Psalm PS 121:1BC-2, 3-4,5-6,7-8 

R. (see 2)  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Alleluia MATTHEW 5:12A 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
for your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church

3 Those who with God’s help have welcomed Christ’s call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world. This treasure, received from the apostles, has been faithfully guarded by their successors. All Christ’s faithful are called to hand it on from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer.

 

MONDAY, JUNE 8TH   Mt. 5: 1-12   Eight Beatitudes: Eight Blessings and Eight Challenges

1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”

  • Are we poor in spirit? Could we lose what we have today and say with Job, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
  • Do we possess our possessions or do they possess us? Do we cling to people more than we cling to the Lord? A bird can’t fly if its leg is tied by a rope or a string!
  • Attachments to persons, places, and things are what cause us sadness and hold us back from soaring high in the spiritual life! It is a paradox that losing them can make us sad, but possessing them can make us sad as well! The rich young man in the Gospel went away sad for he had many possessions. (Mt. 19:22) Why? Because he wasn’t free.
  • Jesus wants us to hold everyone and everything loosely in our hands, so He is free to rearrange things, to add things, and to take things away. We may feel sad at first, but when we are docile to His will, we find that He never takes something away, without giving us something better.
  • Sometimes that something better is a deeper, more abiding friendship with Jesus! Lord, help us cling only to you and to our dearest Mother Mary, so we may experience the freedom and joy of the sons and daughters of God!

2. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

  • Do we mourn? It is true we mourn many kinds of losses. The death of loved ones is perhaps the most painful. Though as believers, we have hope that we will see our loved ones again.
  • There is another kind of death we should mourn. Do we mourn falling into serious sin? Do we mourn knowing that our sins and the sins of others, mortal or venial, grieve the hearts of Jesus and Mary?
  • Do we make a perfect Act of Contrition, also known as a contrition of love? Love for God who created us out of love – love for Jesus who suffered and died on the cross for love of us – love for Mary, our Mother, who entered into the Passion and death of Jesus on the cross for love of us?
  • Do we pray the Daily Examen Prayer to thank God for the blessings we receive each day? To see where we cooperated with His grace to avoid sin, where we shunned His grace and gave into sin? Do we take time to consider why we fell – the steps that led to our fall? Do we have a plan to avoid falling into the same sins again?
  • Do we beg Jesus to forgive us and pour forth His never failing mercy upon us? Do ask for His grace and help to avoid near occasions of sin tomorrow, to make our day and our life more pleasing to God?
  • Do we console the hearts of Jesus and Mary everyday by offering prayers and sacrifices in reparation for our sins and the sins of others? Do we pray and offer sacrifices that a soul may get out of purgatory this day? That no sinner will die in unrepented mortal sin this day?
  • Sacrifices are both voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary means the sacrifices and good works we choose to do. This should always include a concrete plan to work against our capital sins and imperfections! Involuntary means those sufferings God chooses for us, that we willingly accept. With Saint Paul, let us say: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” (Col. 1:24)

3. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.”

  • Are we meek? Meekness is not weakness, but great passion under control! If you think meek is weak, try being meek for a week! The seed is patience, the full grown tree is meekness! The meek are slow to anger and rich in kindness! They do not seek their own comfort, honor, or glory. They seek only to give glory and honor to God in all that they say and do! Because they seek nothing for themselves, they will receive everything from Jesus!

 4. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be satisfied.”

  • Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do we hunger and thirst for holiness in spirit and truth? Do we pray the Rosary daily, make our daily holy hour, make frequent confessions, go to Mass and Holy Communion as often as possible?
  • No Sacraments? Even during the Coronavirus sheltering-in-place, we can do our daily Examen prayer to examine our conscience and make a perfect act of contrition of love. Receive a spiritual Holy Communion every day, even more than once a day! Make our holy hour an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament live on line! We may even have time to pray more than one Rosary a day! How about a family Rosary, with everyone participating. Family members taking turns leading a decade and naming the intention for that decade. Even more graces can be earned during these difficult times, when we are not taking the Lord for granted!
  • Are we faithful to the duties of our vocation in life? Are we generous in serving God by serving others? Do we try to love others as God loves them, with all their faults and failings and with a keen awareness of our own!
  • Finally, Saint Louis de Montfort reminds us of the one true vocation we all share, regardless of our state in life: “It is certain that growth in the holiness of God is your vocation. All your thoughts, words, actions, everything you suffer or undertake must lead you toward that end. Otherwise you are resisting God in not doing the work for which He created you and for which He is even now keeping you in being!”   

5. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

  • Are we merciful? The merciful accuse themselves and excuse others. How often do we find ourselves doing the exact opposite, excusing ourselves and accusing others! How often do we judge others because they sin differently than we do? The merciful forgive the offenses of others because they are keenly aware of their own faults, failings, and sins.
  • With one exception, Immaculate Mary, we are all sinners. No one is free of guilt. Each one of us has pounded the nail into Jesus’ hand! Jesus taught us to pray: “Father, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We should tremble every time we pray these words for the many times we fail to forgive others! Lord, help us to keep our sins always before our eyes, so that we may be merciful to others and receive your mercy!

David’s Act of Contrition (Psalm 51 excerpt)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, my sin is always before me. Against you alone have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge me. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

6. “Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God.”

  • Are we pure of heart? We are all born with original sin, and though Baptism removes it from our soul, its effects remain.
  • CCC 1263 and 1264: By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. Yet certain temporal consequences of sin remain in the baptized, such as suffering, illness, death, and such frailties inherent in life as weaknesses of character, and so on, as well as an inclination to sin, that Tradition calls concupiscence, metaphorically “the tinder for sin” (fomes peccati); since concupiscence “is left for us to wrestle with, it cannot harm those who do not consent but manfully resist it by the grace of Jesus Christ.”
  • However, it is not enough to banish sinful thoughts or images from our mind – we have to replace them with virtuous thoughts and images! The man who swept his house clean of one devil, ended up having seven devils return! (Lk 11:24-26)
  • It’s not about what the man did, it’s about what he didn’t do! He left his house empty! If we banish bad thoughts and images from our mind, and leave our mind empty or idle – bad thoughts and images will return in spades!
  • Do we make an effort at all times to fill our eyes, ears, mind, and heart with good and holy thoughts, desires, intentions, and affections that are pleasing to God? Or do we allow worldly, even sinful thoughts, images, desires, and pleasures to distract and overtake us? We will know our minds and hearts are pure when we can see God in all things, and all things in God!

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

  • Are we peacemakers? Do we make peace or disturb the peace – in our home, at work, at church, with our neighbors? Do we create unity or cause division? Do we build bridges or barriers? Do we use our tongue to build up or tear down? Are we more likely to encourage or criticize?
  • We are all a work in progress! Conversion is God’s work and He is not finished with us yet. Our work is to listen always to others, speak the truth when necessary, and pray ceaselessly that in God’s time and with God’s grace, their eyes, as well as our own,, will be opened a little to a greater truth.
  • Ignatius of Loyola says of his own conversion, “my eyes were opened a little”. St. Paul says: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Cor. 3:6)
  • Being a peacemaker isn’t about compromising the truth. It is about recognizing that we are all sinners in need of conversion. Being a peacemaker is related to being merciful – God’s greatest attribute.
  • Words of wisdom from Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen. “A person is merciful when he feels the sorrow and misery of another as if it were his own. Disliking misery and unhappiness, the merciful person seeks to dispel the misery of his neighbor just as much as he would if the misery were his own. That is why, whenever mercy is confronted not only with pain, but with sin and wrongdoing, it becomes forgiveness which not merely pardons, but ever rebuilds into justice, repentance, and love.” 

8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

  • If we sincerely embrace and strive to live the first seven Beatitudes, we will experience the eighth – persecution for what we believe, how we speak and act, how we live and love –  that is to say, grounded in truth that produces true freedom!
  • To those who persevere in God’s truth and love, Jesus says: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven!” (Mt. 5:11-12) 

Christ is calling us today to accept Eight Great Challenges and reap Eight Even Greater Blessings! What is your answer???

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA
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MASS READINGS AND COMMENTARY | JUNE 7, 2020

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Reading 1 EX 34: 4B-6, 8-9

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai
as the LORD had commanded him,
taking along the two stone tablets.

Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there
and proclaimed his name, “LORD.”
Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
“The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”
Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O Lord,
do come along in our company.
This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,
and receive us as your own.”

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 

R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Reading 2 2 COR 13: 11-13

Brothers and sisters, rejoice.
Mend your ways, encourage one another,
agree with one another, live in peace,
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Alleluia CF. RV 1:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 3: 16-18 

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

2 So that this call should resound throughout the world, Christ sent forth the apostles he had chosen, commissioning them to proclaim the gospel: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Strengthened by this mission, the apostles “went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it.”

SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH   Jn. 3:16-18   Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Today we celebrate the revelation of the Most Holy Trinity.

CCC 221. God’s very being is love. By sending His only Son and the Spirit of Love in the fullness of time, God has revealed His innermost secret: God Himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and He has destined us to share in that exchange.

God in His very nature is a Communion of Love. We are called to participate in this Communion of Love by our Baptism.

CCC 1265: Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte “a new creature”, an adopted son of God, who has become a “partaker of the divine nature”, member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.

This is our Triune God who created each one of us out of love, and who desires our love in return. How well do I receive His love? How well do I love Him in return?

God revealed in the Old Testament…  

  • God gradually revealed Himself to mankind. He made known His Oneness and Transcendence. Unlike the world, He was not created, He always existed: “I Am Who Am.” (Ex 3:14) He is not limited in time, space, or power. He protects His people “with strong hand and outstretched arm” (Ps. 136:12).
  • He revealed His tender love. “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me! You know when I sit and when I stand. You discern my thoughts from afar. You created my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wondrously made.” (Ps. 139:1-2, 12-14)
  • He revealed His compassion and mercy. “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are renewed every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam 3:22-23)
  • He revealed His providence. “The Lord is my shepherd, nothing shall I want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. Even though I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil, for you are at my side. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Ps. 23 excerpt)

God revealed in the New Testament…

  • “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (Jn. 10: 14-15, 27-30)
  • “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (Jn. 13:1)
  • “Do not let your hearts be troubled. In my Father’s house there are many mansions; if that were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (Jn. 14:1-3) 
  • “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (Jn. 14:16-17)
  • “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (Jn. 14:25-26)
  • “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (Jn. 15: 9-10)
  • “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (Jn. 15:12-15)
  • “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (Jn. 15:16)
  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33)
  • “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (Jn. 17:24)
  • Today, let us rejoice in our Triune God who first loved us, and who desires our love in return! Love is shown in thought, word, and deed! Mary is the Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son, and Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Mary, my Mother, help me to love and to serve the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit with the purity of your Heart and docility of your Will, so that they may be loved and served worthily. Amen!
Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA
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