“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28^TH Mt. 25:1-13   Saint Augustine   “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Part 1: Short Reflection on the Gospel

Part 2: Excerpt from Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis

Part 3: Twenty-five Helps to Improve Your Confession by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

PART 1: Reflection…

• What does it mean to “stay awake” since we know neither the day nor the hour when Jesus will come for us – as Savior in this life, but as just judge in the next.
• Jesus gave us the answer when He appeared to the Apostles Easter Sunday night. He said, “‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ With that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive, will be forgiven; whose sins you retain, will be retained. ’”
• Thus in Mt. 20:21-22 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confession. Based on this promise, Vicar of Christ on earth – Pope Francis continues this theme of Confession and forgiveness by giving us a most inspiring and encouraging invitation.

 PART 2: Excerpt from Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis

I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”.

The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that He is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”.

How good it feels to come back to Him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us His example: He has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again He bears us on His shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, He makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than His life, which impels us onwards!

PART 3: TWENTY-FIVE HELPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CONFESSION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy.” (Pope Francis: Joy of the Gospel)

In Sacramental Theology exists an all-important concept for the efficacious reception of any of the Sacraments. This is called Dispositive Grace or Grace of Disposition. What this concept means is simply this: the graces that you receive in your reception of the Sacraments are in direct proportion to the disposition of your soul at the moment of the reception of that specific Sacrament.

SACRAMENTS AND JESUS.  In the Sacraments Jesus touches us directly, in the most personal and powerful way that we could possibly imagine. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ and Christ unites Himself with us through the Sacraments.

SIMPLE EXAMPLE: RECEIVING A GUEST.  One of the easiest analogies to understand the concept of Dispositive Grace could be the example of inviting a guest to dinner. There is a whole gamut of ways that the guest could be received, from totally poor to excellent. In inviting a guest, you might even forget that you invited him—pretty shabby! Or the guest might come and the door is open, but there has been no prior preparation. Still again, the guest might be received with a meal prepared, but all is done in a rush, in which the guest feels as if he were a burden. Then, there might be preparation for the guest with a warm welcome, a good meal, and great desert. Finally, it might be such that the house was cleaned the day before, the favorite food of the guest has been prepared, the guest’s favorite music is playing in the background, and then at the end of the meal, the family offers the guest a special gift that the guest really likes! Obviously, every scenario is different. This can be applied with respect to the concept of Dispositive Grace, most specifically to the reception of Jesus in the Eucharist. He can be received very poorly or with an excellent disposition.

FREQUENT SACRAMENTS TO BE RECEIVED.  There are two Sacraments that we should receive frequently until we die and meet the Lord—Confession and the Holy Eucharist. In this article we would like to highlight specific ways that we can enhance the graces that we receive in the reception of the Sacrament of Confession, sometimes called Penance or Reconciliation. The suggestions will be very short, but we hope very useful to upgrade your reception of the Infinite Mercy of Jesus that comes through this Sacrament.

1. TRUST! We must have a limitless TRUST in the Infinite Love and Mercy that comes to us through Jesus in the Sacrament of His Mercy, Confession. May this prayer issue forth from our heart time and time again: JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!

2. READ AND MEDITATE UPON LUKE 15. An excellent means to prepare us to receive the Sacrament of God’s Mercy is to read and meditate upon Luke 15, sometimes called the Lost and Found Chapter.

3. PARABLES OF MERCY. In Luke 15 we encounter the lost and found sheep, the lost and found coin, and the lost and found son—the Prodigal Son. Confession is being found and loved by our Merciful Father.

4. JUST DO IT! The modern phrase found on many young people’s T-shirts is Just do it! The devil will try to prevent you from going to confession. So, kick the devil in the behind and Just do it!

5. PRIEST-CHRIST. We must renew our faith that by going to confession to the priest we are really confessing to Jesus, the Eternal High Priest.

6. BIBLICAL TRUTH. Recall the words Jesus used in instituting the Sacrament of Confession on that first Easter Sunday night when the Apostles were in the Upper Room. “Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you forgive, will be forgiven; whose sins you retain, will be retained.” (Jn 20:22-23)

7. MORTAL SIN: CONFESS RIGHT AWAY! If you have had the misfortune of falling into mortal sin, which means you have lost sanctifying grace and friendship with Jesus, do not wait but go to Confession as soon as possible! If your house was on fire, you would not wait to call the Fire Department! What about your soul being in danger of eternal perdition? Do not wait!!!

8. PREPARE WELL!!! As said earlier, expressing the concept of Dispositive Grace, the better the preparation, the more abundant the graces. The fault is never in the Sacrament, but in the poor disposition of the recipient of the Sacrament.

9. HOW TO PREPARE?  Get a good booklet explaining the Ten Commandments in detail and read through it; better said, pray through it. Jesus said to the rich young man that salvation comes through observing the Commandments. Indeed, they are Commandments, not Suggestions!

 10. WRITTEN. It could be very helpful to write down your sins on a piece of paper. This will prevent memory loss in the moment you go to confession. However, after confession, trash the paper and the sins!

11. SORROW. Of paramount importance in making a good confession is begging the Holy Spirit for the grace of true sorrow for your sins. Imperfect sorrow is called Attrition, which is Fear of the Lord, the beginning of Wisdom. It is also one of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Imperfect sorrow is fear of going to hell. This is enough to receive forgiveness for our sins.

12. PERFECT SORROW.  However, we want to arrive at perfect sorrow. This means that we are sorry for having sinned because our sins have hurt the One who loves us so much and the One we should love in return—Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

13. BEG FOR THE GRACE.  We should beg for the grace to attain both imperfect contrition, as well as perfect contrition. Saint Augustine put it concisely: “We are all beggars before God.”

14. FIRM PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT.  What necessarily flows from true and sincere contrition of sorrow for our sins is a firm purpose of amendment. In concrete, this means that we are ready and willing to avoid any person, place, thing, or circumstance that can lead us into sin.

15. DO NOT PLAY WITH FIRE.  In other words, morally speaking, we should not play with fire. We should not walk on a slippery slope. We should not walk on thin ice. Often we sin because we place ourselves in harm’s way.  We must be firm in avoiding all near occasions of sin!

16. PREPARE BEFORE IMAGES.  Of great usefulness as you prepare yourself for confession, as you examine your conscience and beg for true sorrow, is to pray before images that raise your mind and heart to God. Three in particular. The Crucifix—be aware that your sins and mine nailed Jesus to the cross. Divine Mercy, so that your trust in Jesus’ Mercy will be infinite! Finally, Our Lady, to whom we pray: Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope!

17. BEFORE CONFESSING: PRAY FOR THE PRIEST.  On one occasion, Saint Faustina left the confessional intranquil and she wondered why.  Jesus revealed to her the reason: she forgot to pray for the priest before she entered the confessional. So pray for the priest (a Hail Mary or a prayer to the Guardian Angels—his and yours) and your confession will flow more smoothly!

18. QUALITIES OF A GOOD CONFESSION.  Jesus also revealed to Saint Faustina the three most important qualities of a good confession: transparency, humility, and obedience. To be a good penitent, we must express our sins with great clarity. We should make no excuses for our sins or blame others. Finally, we should obey what the priest tells us!

19. CLOSE THE DOOR AND START RIGHT.  Upon entering the confessional make sure that you close the door! Then start with the proper formula: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was… (for example, a month ago). These are my sins… (say your sins). It Is necessary to say the number and species (kind) of your mortal sins.

20. STICK TO THE TOPIC.  In that famous TV Program Dragnet, we heard those all-important words from Police Detective, Joe Friday: “Just the facts ma’am, just the facts.” In confession the priest wants to hear: Just the sins, ma’am, just the sins. Cut to the quick and tell your sins; that is the essential matter for confession and for a true and repentant heart!

21. ACT OF CONTRITION AND ABSOLUTION.  The Sacrament concludes with you, the penitent, praying with great sincerity and fervor an Act of Contrition. Then the priest imparts with the words of Absolution and through the ministry of the priest, the most Precious Blood of Jesus washes your soul clean, as white as the snow!

22. AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!  Thank the priest, and as you leave thank Jesus for His Infinite Love and Mercy that you just received in this wonderful Sacrament!  “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)

23. PENANCE!  The last and final step of making a good confession is to carry out the penance the priest gives you. Once my Formator, when I was in preparation for the priesthood, made a suggestion regarding the penance. He said to always try to do double what the confessor gives you. Not that this is absolutely necessary. However, it is a sign of good will and a sign of a really good grace of disposition. God will bless you all the more! He can never be outdone in generosity!

24. HEALING THE WOUNDED HEART AND SOUL.  The specific sacramental grace of Confession is healing: sin wounds our soul, but Jesus heals us. As Jesus healed the many sick and infirm in the three years of His Public life, so He continually heals us through the making good confessions. Rejoice in being healed! Indeed, Jesus is the Wounded-Healer!

25. BE AN APOSTLE OF CONFESSION!  You have received so much peace, joy, happiness, love, and mercy through having received the Sacrament of God’s Mercy, Confession, now go out and proclaim the Good News! Bring others to this infinite Font of God’s mercy! “Give thanks to the lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever!!!” (Ps. 136:1)

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27^TH   Mt. 24:42-51  Saint Monica  Stewardship: “Who then is the faithful and prudent servant?”

Part 1: Reflection on Stewardship…

Part 2: Fostering Stewardship with an Attitude of Gratitude by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV

PART 1…

• Have you ever watched a neighbor’s house while they were away on vacation? Made sure it was locked and secure? Watered the plants? You probably checked the house was locked twice over and watered the plants more faithfully than your own!
• Or babysat a toddler while the mom was away for a few hours? You probably worried more about that child falling and getting hurt than your own child!
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the analogy that we are stewards watching over His possessions while He is away! What are these possessions of the Lord that we are responsible for and will be held accountable for?
• Our faith… Faith is a gift freely given to us in Baptism. Better said, faith is entrusted to us. Upon His return, will He find our faith alive and fruitful? A firm faith nurtures hope and sparks charity – love of God and love of neighbor!
• The Church – the Mystical Body of Christ… All the baptized are called to protect and defend Holy Mother Church. Do we lift up and sanctify the Church by our prayers, sacrifices, good works, and loving obedience? Do we value and frequent the Sacraments as instruments of sanctifying grace?
  
• Our spouse and our marriage… The Sacrament of Marriage is a channel of grace to sanctify the spouses and indeed the whole world! Do we sanctify our spouse by our prayers and sacrifices for them? Do we show our love and respect for them? Are we able to say these three most important “words”: I love you. I’m sorry. I forgive you.
• Our children… We are stewards of these gifts from God! Are we affectionate and loving with them? Do we spend time talking with them? Do we teach them the Faith? Do we take them to Confession, Mass and Holy Communion? Do we pray as a family?
• Our nation… Our country was founded on freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion! Are we praying and sacrificing for the rights of Christians to profess their faith not only in church, but in the marketplace? Not only in America, but around the world? May God protect and defend us in our hour of need!
• STAY AWAKE! BE VIGILANT!  When the Master returns will He find His treasures flourishing in the heart and the life of each one of us? Each of us must do what we can to be the light in this present darkness until His return!!!

PART 2: FOSTERING STEWARDSHIP WITH AN ATTITUDE OF PERPETUAL GRATITUDE

STORY OF THE TEN LEPERS. (Luke 17:11-19)

A Biblical passage that elicits profound joy, but at the same time intense sadness, is when Jesus heals the ten men afflicted with the terrible, contagious, terminal, and ugly disease of leprosy—a disease that was highly prevalent in the Biblical times before Jesus and during the lifetime of Jesus on earth.

PROFOUND JOY.  Their overflowing joy flows from the fact that the love, mercy, and compassion of Jesus were made manifest by a mere word when He healed these poor men whom society had ostracized and marginalized. As they headed on their way to the priest, their healing was both immediate and total. Can you imagine their exuberant and overflowing joy—this terrible disease gone in an instant??? Still more, imagine the joy of their relatives upon seeing them!

THE INTENSE SORROW OF THE HEART OF JESUS.  Intermingled with the joy of the healed lepers was the surprise and obvious sorrow of Jesus. His words: “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” (Lk. 17:17-18). It is an interesting detail, but of great importance: it was only the foreigner, a Samaritan, who returned, prostrated himself, and profusely thanked Jesus from the depths of his entire being.

MODERN WORLD: LOSING THE SOCIAL VIRTUES.  We are living in a world in which the social virtues that are really the condiment of social existence are being lost, most specifically, the virtue of GRATITUDE. If you like, we have lost the cultivation of an Attitude of Gratitude! Two of the key phrases to condiment and embellish social existence are the following: Please and Thank You!!! Another two, related to the virtue of humility, would be: I’m Sorry and I Forgive You!!!

WISDOM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

The famous Dominican scholar and mystic, Meister Eckhart, asserted: “If the only prayer we said was Thank You that would be enough.”

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, we read: “More painful than a serpent’s tooth is that of an ungrateful child.”

The Psalmist invites all to render thanks in these words: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)

The great Apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul, stated: “Give thanks to God on all occasions.” (1 Thess 5:18)

The Master, the Lord Jesus Himself, while at the Last Supper and in the context of the institution of the Eucharist, took bread and gave thanks. Not a surprise that the word Eucharist actually means “Thanksgiving”. (Mt. 26:26)

Every year, on the fourth Thursday of the month of November, families in the United States come together to share a sumptuous meal, but even more important, the families come together to celebrate one of the most important Holidays and that is THANKSGIVING DAY. On this day especially, families should recall the abundant gifts they have received from the bounteous hands of a loving and generous God and render copious thanks!

Therefore, it is more than appropriate that we offer a heartfelt hymn of praise and thanksgiving in enumerating reasons and purposes why thanksgiving should flow spontaneously and profusely from our grateful hearts. The list could be endless, but we would invite all to give thanks in ten specific areas where gratitude indeed is merited. May this humble and brief reflection serve as a springboard to bolster and strengthen your own personal prayer life! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1) May this prayer of the Psalmist resonate in the depths of our hearts!

1. THE GIFT OF LIFE.  Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (Jn 14:6) He also said: “I have come that you may have life and life in abundance.” (Jn 10:10) One of the greatest gifts that the Author of all life can give and has given us is that of LIFE. Let us constantly thank God for our life, and use all the gifts that flow from our life to praise and glorify God and save souls! More than 61 million babies have been deprived of life since the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, Jan 22, 1973. Let us thank our mothers for saying YES to life! Let us promote life! A suggestion: if possible, view these two movies GOSNEL and UNPLANNED. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, these movies will motivate you to be more grateful for the gift of your life and become a zealous defender of life from the moment of conception until natural death.

2. EYES TO CONTEMPLATE THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S CREATION.  When was the last time you told God thank you for the gift of your eyes and the wonderful gift of sight, so as to contemplate the beauty of His creation? Imagine that you are a blind person—if you are willing, spend one day with your eyes blind-folded, such that you can see no person, nor any gift of nature. Undoubtedly, the following day when you wake up and look out at the sun rising, painting the sky with its majestic beauty, you will appreciate the gift of your sight all the more fully.

3. SUPERNATURAL LIFE.  Probably most of the readers of this essay have received the extraordinary, unmerited, and gratuitous gift of the Sacrament of Baptism that entails many blessings. Baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus our older Brother, intimate Friends with the Holy Spirit, and living Tabernacles of the Blessed Trinity. For this intimate relationship that starts with the Sacrament of Baptism, and the many other spiritual gifts we receive, we lift up our hearts to God in humble gratitude. Let us strive to live out our Baptismal commitment!

4. FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.  None of us can say with absolute sincerity that we have the best of parents, relatives, or friends; nor can we honestly affirm that we have been the best of any of the above. That being said, we should spend time thanking God abundantly for the many persons that He has so generously placed in our path as a bridge to Himself. If you like the image, let us not be remiss in thanking God for having placed, so to speak, Good Samaritans on the highway of our life leading us to our eternal haven of safety. May our hearts overflow in gratitude for these good people that God has put in our path to lead us closer to Him!

5. HEALTH.  Normally, as the years whirl by, our health declines. As one of my dear relatives used to say with a smirk on his face: “You arrive at a certain age when your body starts to fall apart a piece at a time.” Still, we should thank God for the years of health He has bestowed upon us, for the years of health we have been able to enjoy, and for our health at present. As the poet expressed so succinctly: “I complained because I had no shoes, until I met someone without any feet.” In other words, every day we bump into people who have less than us in so many respects. Let us thank God for what we have right now!

6. HIS INFINITE MERCY.  As a result of Original Sin, we are all weak and prone to easily fall into sin. The Bible states this clearly: “The just man falls seven times a day.” (Prov 24:16) This should never be a reason to give in to sadness, much less despair. As so beautifully exemplified in  the greatest story ever told by the greatest Storyteller, Jesus the Lord, the Parable of the Prodigal Son or Merciful Father—God’s loving arms and merciful Heart are always open ready to receive us. We just have to tell Him “I’m sorry” and express our sorrow in the context of the Sacrament of Confession. Then as the Prophet Isaiah says in these most consoling words: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Is 1:18)

7. THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST.  Never will we be able to thank the Good Lord Jesus for having instituted the most sublime Gift of the most Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, which was actually the First Mass. The simple fact that the Church allows all those who have made their First Communion and are in the state of sanctifying grace to receive Holy Communion on a daily basis is glorious. In the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, Saint Faustina states that even the angels have a holy envy of us, because they cannot receive the sublime Gift of Holy Communion, but we can! The word Eucharist actually means Thanksgiving! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)

8. HEAVEN AWAITS US.  Of enormous importance is our firm faith and belief in heaven! Compared to eternity, our life on earth is ephemeral; it is very short. As the Psalmist reminds us: “We are like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies as the sun goes down.” (Ps 90:6) But if we persevere in our love for God until the end, then heaven awaits us! None of us can imagine the greatness of heaven! Saint Paul expresses this clearly: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9) Life can be tough, but our joy and happiness in heaven is right around the corner, and it is eternal!

9. FRIENDS ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HAND.  We are not living as orphans, as abandoned children, nor are we bereft of help in time of need. Not only is God our Heavenly Father, and Jesus our Elder Brother, but we also have a cloud of witnesses in Heaven who are praying for us, encouraging us, and cheering us on to victory. Of course these are the angels and the saints. Indeed, they are God’s close friends, but they are our friends also! Any time, place, or circumstance in which we find ourselves in need, we can call out to these good and faithful friends—the angels and saints—and they will run to our rescue and help us in countless ways. Let us give thanks that to be Catholic is to live in a family—the Communion of Saints is part of our family fabric and structure!

10. MARY OUR MOTHER: OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS, AND OUR HOPE.  Our attitude of gratitude would be incomplete if we did not thank God for having given us a heavenly Mother, Mary most holy. Mary is the Mother of God, she is the Mother of the Church, but also, Mary is the Mother of every one of us. She is my Mother and your Mother. She is also, as we pray in the Hail Holy Queen, “Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.”

Therefore, as we come to a close in our sharing on cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude, let us beg for the grace to imitate the one leper who ran back to Jesus, prostrated himself before Jesus who healed him, and rendered Jesus abundant thanks! Lord Jesus, thank you, thank you, thank you! “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1)

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26^TH    Mt. 23:27-32   “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

Part 1: Short Reflection on Gospel of the Day
Part 2: Ten Ways We Can Grow to Love the Eucharist by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
Part 3: Eucharistic Litany from St. Faustina’s Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul

PART 1:

• Chap. 23 of the Gospel of Matthew is devoted to Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees. “On the outside you appear righteous, but on the inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.” However, his most potent condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees is this: “You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Mt. 23:13)
• May Jesus never say these things about us!!!
• What was the purpose of Jesus’ preaching and teaching, His miracles of healing and miracles over nature? For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, to know that Jesus is God. Preparing them for the greatest and most sublime of all miracles!
• “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” (Jn. 6: 53-56)
• The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. There was a lot of “Woe to you” in today’s Gospel! May our meditation on the Eucharist bring us abundant “Blessed are you” from our Eucharistic Lord!

PART 2:

TEN WAYS WE CAN GROW TO LOVE THE EUCHARIST!  by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

We should strive to grow in our love for Jesus who is truly Present in the most Holy Eucharist and this should be a life-time pursuit! Our conversion of heart, our sanctification, our interior peace and joy, our final perseverance in grace, depend on Jesus, and He is truly and substantially present in the consecrated Host in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

The following are concrete actions that we can take to fortify our love for the greatest of all Lovers, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Bread of Life!

1. READ JOHN CHAPTER SIX AND LEARN IT.  One of the most important chapters in the Bible that refers to the Presence of Jesus as the Bread of Life is the Gospel of Saint John, Chapter Six. Try to read, pray over, and meditate on this sublime chapter of the preaching and teaching of Jesus in the discourse titled: THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE! (Jn 6:22-71)

2. SPIRITUAL COMMUNIONS.  Highly recommended by Saint Alphonsus and many other saints is the practice of making Spiritual Communions. They can be made in any time and any place, using many different words of expression. Your fundamental desire and prayer should be to receive Jesus in a spiritual but profound way, into the depths of your heart, to be constantly united to the Lord Jesus, the Bread of Life. A simple prayer is: “Jesus, I cannot receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart. As if you were already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you. Jesus I love you, Jesus I trust in you, Jesus never let me be separated from you!”

3. READ IMITATION OF CHRIST—BOOK IV.  One of the greatest classics ever written is The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. It was one of the favorites of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Therese, and surely other saints. The text is divided into four books. The last book deals specifically with the Mass, Holy Communion, the Eucharist, the Priest, and many other topics pertinent to growing and falling in love with the Eucharist. Purchase it, read it, and love it!

4. DIARY OF SAINT FAUSTINA—BOOK VI.  Another classic is that of the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul by Saint Faustina Kowalska, who was called the Secretary of Divine Mercy. This literary classic and masterpiece is divided into six books. Like The Imitation of Christ, the last book of the Diary deals with the way that Saint Faustina would prepare her soul to receive the Eucharist, the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. This will profit you greatly in your own preparation and reception of this greatest of all Sacraments—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus!

5. VISIT THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.  Friends enjoy visiting with each other and as often as possible. If indeed Jesus is our Best of Friends, then we should long to make frequent visits. Remember the short poem with respect to making Eucharistic visits in Catholic Churches: Whenever I see a church, I stop to make a visit; so that when I die, the Lord won’t say “Who is it?” When you see a Church, stop what you are doing! Enter the Church and greet the Lord! Thank the Lord Jesus and tell Him how much you love Him!

6. FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH JESUS.  There is a wonderful little booklet: Fifteen Minutes with Jesus. A short but impressive booklet, it can serve as a great platform to enter into dialogue and talk with Jesus as your Best Friend. Indeed, Jesus wants to be your Best Friend. He is waiting for you right now!

7. HOLY HOUR OF REPARATION.  Given that all are sinners—we are sinners, our family members are sinners—many souls are heading in full force towards the precipice. Add to that, the Church and our country are going through a great state of turmoil. Now more than ever we should make a concerted effort to be with the Lord praying for mercy, pardon, conversion, and salvation! The inhabitants of Nineveh were saved by the preaching of Jonah. The King called for fasting and penance by all the people and even the animals. Seeing their penitent hearts, God spared Nineveh from destruction. Equally important for us in this time of Ecclesial storm and political storm is to make Holy Hours of Reparation, begging mercy for us, for the Church, for our country, and for the whole world! “For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

8. NOVENA OF MASSES FOR VARIOUS INTENTIONS.  One of the greatest gifts anybody can give, or for that part receive, is that of prayer. By far, the greatest prayer that can be offered and received is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The graces flowing from the Mass are most powerful. Indeed, it is the Offering of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus to the Eternal Father for the salvation of the entire world. This is something you can do: go to Mass for nine consecutive days and offer the Mass and your reception of Holy Communion for a specific person and even for a specific intention if you want. The possible intentions are limitless! Examples: the conversion of sinners; the return of your son to the practice of the faith; that your daughter might get married in the Church; that your husband might give up drinking; that your brother in jail might go to confession; that some young man might say Yes to a vocation to the priesthood! The key is that for nine days in a row you attend Holy Mass and receive Jesus in Holy Communion, all offered for your specific intention. Innumerable graces can flow from this novena of Masses and Holy Communions. Why not start today? God will bless you and others most abundantly!

9. GENUFLECTION.  Even though it may be a small and almost inconspicuous gesture, the genuflection has immense importance and value! Bending your right knee and going all the way down to touch the ground, is a corporal gesture that is made when passing in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Its meaning? This was done in the Middle Ages as a gesture of homage or tribute to a King or Queen. In a parallel, but very real sense, Jesus is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Therefore, even more should Jesus be honored and praised by a reverential genuflection!!! The greater the person, the more, in justice, we owe Him great dignity and respect by even our corporal postures and gestures.

10. BRING WANDERING SHEEP TO THE EUCHARISTIC LORD.  Be a Eucharistic Apostle and bring a wandering sheep back to the fold by inviting this Prodigal Son/Daughter to Church. Go the whole nine yards! Invite them to go with you to Church, first to make a good Confession. Then return once again to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive Jesus in Holy Communion! Saint James reminds us that if we bring back a wandering soul, we save our own soul and expiate a multitude of our sins! (Jas 5: 19-20) We merit our own salvation and less time in Purgatory! Go for it!

PART 3: EUCHARISTIC LITANY… St. Faustina’s Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul

No. 356.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the mercy of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit toward us, and especially toward poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus as proof of infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained life eternal and infinite mercy dispensed in abundance to us, and especially to poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the infinite price of mercy which will compensate for all our debts, and especially those of poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the fountain of living water which springs from infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the fire of purest love which blazes forth from the bosom of the Eternal Father as from an abyss of infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the medicine for all our infirmities flowing from infinite mercy as from a fount for us, and especially for poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the union between God and us through His infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.

O Blessed Host in whom are contained all the sentiments of the most sweet Heart of Jesus toward us, and especially poor sinners.

O Blessed Host, our only hope in the toil and monotony of everyday life.

O Blessed Host, our only hope in all the sufferings and adversities of life.

O Blessed Host, our only hope in the longing and pain in which no one understands us.

O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of the darkness and godlessness which inundate the earth.

O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of ravages of the enemy and efforts of hell.

O Blessed Host, our only hope in life and at the hour of our death.

O Blessed Host, I trust in You when the burdens are beyond my strength and I find my efforts are fruitless.

O Blessed Host, I trust in You when storms toss my heart about and my fearful spirit tends to despair.

O Blessed Host I trust in You when the practice of virtue will appear difficult for me and my nature will grow rebellious.

O Blessed Host, I trust in You when hostile blows will be aimed against me.

O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my toils and efforts will be misjudged by others.

O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my eyes will begin to grow dim to all temporal things and, for the first time, my spirit will behold the unknown worlds.

O Blessed Host, I trust in You when Your judgment will resound over me; it is then that I will trust in the sea of Your mercy.

No. 357 +Most Holy Trinity, I trust in Your infinite mercy. God is my Father and so I, His child, have every claim to His divine Heart; and the greater the darkness, the more complete our trust should be.

No. 358 I do not understand how it is possible not to trust in Him who can do all things. With Him, everything; without Him, nothing. He is Lord. He will not allow those who have placed all their trust in Him to be put to shame.  

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25th  Mt. 23:23-26 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.”

Jesus is unmasking the hypocrisy and pride of the scribes and Pharisees.

Catholic theologian Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (+1964) warns us of the dangers of pride.

“It gives us such confidence in our reason and judgment that we are not very willing to consult others, especially our superiors, or to enlighten ourselves by the attentive and benevolent examination of reasons or facts which may be urged against us. It leads also to asperity in discussions, to stubbornness in judgment, to disparagement which excludes in a cutting tone all that does not fit in with our manner of seeing things. This state of mind leads to manifest imprudent acts that will have to be painfully expiated.” 

Garrigou-Lagrange contrasts growth in our natural life with growth in our spiritual life.

In our natural life, maturing means leaving the embrace of mother and father and moving from dependence on our parents to independence and autonomy.

Growth in the spiritual life is a contrary movement… In our spiritual life, maturing means moving from a false autonomy of self-sufficiency to throwing ourselves into the arms of our Heavenly Father and Holy Mother Church (Mater Ecclesia), embracing our total dependence on God by means of obedience to the commandments and the teachings of our Holy Church, under the leadership of our Holy Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (cf Jn. 14:16-17, 26)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) How intimately and tenderly God loves us: with a love that is defenseless and inexhaustible, a love that shows us mercy and forgiveness while we are yet sinners, a love that gives us a sure path to heaven through the commandments and the teachings of His Holy Church guided by the Holy Spirit!

For this reason, Jesus says: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 18:3)

LESSONS FROM THE CHILD JESUS: GOD’S WISDOM! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Jesus stated it very clearly: “Unless you become like a child you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt. 18:3) Also, on one occasion, the Apostles were trying to prevent the children from coming to Jesus, the Lord said forcefully: “Let the children come to me; if you do not become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:14)

OUR LADY OF FATIMA AND CHILDREN.  One of the most famous, modern approved apparitions is that of Our Lady of Fatima. God sent His Mother from heaven to a little town in Portugal, Fatima, in the year 1917, six times from May 13 thru October 13. Who did Our Lady appear to? The brilliant? The scholars? The rich and important? The flashy and ostentatious? To none of these did Our Lady appear. Rather, she appeared to three little children—tenders of sheep, and with no formal education! God’s ways are not our ways—this is certain!

GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL DESIGN.  God could have chosen any one of limitless possibilities to ransom or save humanity after the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, that we call Original Sin. God could have come as a powerful King, or a rich millionaire, or a brilliant genius, or a plethora of other flashy, fantastic ways! But no! God’s ways are as different from our ways as the heavens are above the earth! In His Providential Design, God willed to save the world by what theologians call The Incarnation—meaning? That God willed to become one of us, to become a man like all of us with one exception—He was born without sin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to save us from our sins!

AS A CHILD.  Furthermore, God willed to enter the world by the same means by which we entered the world—through a woman. God chose Mary to be the channel by which He would enter humanity. The Ever Virgin Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and maintained her virginity even in the moment of giving birth to Jesus. Indeed, she was ever virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ. 

JESUS THE CHILD—THE SON OF GOD.  Jesus was the baby born of Mary. This Virgin Mother took Him in her tender arms, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and nestled Him close to her most pure and Immaculate Heart. Then Mary placed Jesus on the hay in the manger. The word manger comes from French and means to eat! It was the feeding trough of the animals. Later on, as a man, Jesus would challenge people to nourish themselves on His Body and Blood if they wanted to live, and live forever. “I am the Bread of life. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have everlasting life and I will raise Him up on the last day.” (Jn. 6: 22-71—Bread of life discourse).

BETHLEHEM: HOUSE OF BREAD.  There are no coincidences or unplanned circumstances in God’s providential designs. The word Bethlehem actually means House of Bread. No surprise that Jesus, who was born in the city of the House of Bread, would declare Himself the Bread of life and challenge us that our eternal salvation hinges upon our consuming Him in Mass and Holy Communion as the Bread of Life.

IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR US FROM THE CHILD JESUS.

There are many lessons to learn from God becoming man, being in the womb of Mary for nine months, and finally being born as a little Baby. Let us dig deep into this goldmine of wealth and derive abundant treasures for our meditation and imitation, transformation and sanctification, and perseverance!  What then are the lessons of the Infant-Child Jesus?

1. DEPENDENCY. Even though the Baby Jesus was God, the Son of God made man, still He made Himself totally dependent on others, most especially Mary and Saint Joseph. Jesus would live this attitude of dependency on His Heavenly Father during the whole course of His life. In our spiritual lives we must develop and cultivate a child-like dependency on God in all times, places, and circumstances. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus challenges us to trust by contemplating nature—the lilies of the field who neither labor nor spin and the birds of the air who neither sow nor reap…yet our Heavenly Father provides for them. (Mt 6:25-34). In contrast, in His Public life, Jesus had no permanent home, saying: The foxes have their holes and the birds of the air their nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest His head. (Lk. 9:58)

2. HUMILITY. The littleness of the Child-Jesus is an extraordinary example of humility. God loves the humble but casts down the mighty from their thrones. (Mary’s Magnificat Lk. 1:52) He chose the Publican over the Pharisee, humility over an overweening pride. (Lk. 18:9-14) As a man, Jesus described His own Sacred Heart using two descriptions: “I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt. 11:29) Arrogance, conceit, haughtiness, and self-importance are all alien to the person of the child, and most especially the Child-Jesus!  May He inspire us to pursue a life of great humility!

3. POVERTY. Once again, even though Jesus was, is, and always will be God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He chose to enter the portals of this world not in a palace, castle, or an opulent mansion. On the contrary, He entered this world being born in a stable that served as a refuge for animals. A good part of the warmth of that little cave was the heat from and the breath of the animals there present! We must learn that pursuing money, possessions, power, and esteem will not fill us with authentic joy. Pleasure, yes, but true joy never! The Child Jesus, born in Bethlehem teaches us that we will find true happiness not in the created world, but in the Creator of the world—Jesus the Lord. Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen penned it so eloquently: The Creator of the universe had no place to be born in His own creation!

4. INNOCENCE. In a world where innocence is being lost, even among the children, due to an uncontrolled use of modern technology, the Infant Jesus teaches us clearly and unequivocally the importance of striving to live lives of innocence—freedom from sin! Still more, the Innocent Child Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary challenges us to strive to protect the innocence of our children threatened by so many modern wolves!

5. CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY: INSPIRING TRUST. In the overly complicated world that we have created, we should all long for a more simple, humble, frugal, transparent, as well as detached life-style. Models for us would be Saint Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and the children of Fatima—Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and their cousin Lucia De los Santos. By contemplating the Little Baby Jesus resting peacefully in the arms of His loving Mother, may we learn to strive for Evangelical Poverty and simplicity. Saint Ignatius of Loyola points out that nobody is afraid to approach an innocent little Baby – a strong, aggressive warrior, most-likely – but not an innocent little Baby.

May the Infant Baby Jesus resting in the loving and tender arms of His Mother Mary inspire us to greater trust, greater dependency on our Heavenly Father! Greater humility, greater simplicity, and a life of detachment from things, so that we can be totally anchored and rooted in God our Father!

Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Photo: St Mary in Villacella (Chiesa Nuova) Rome

“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)

MONDAY, AUGUST 24^th  Jn. 1:45-51 Feast of St. Bartholomew “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.” (Responsorial Psalm)

 Part 1: Words of Encouragement to Bring Us Joy by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV… Sad Christians will never bring others to Christ!

Part 2: Reflection on the Call of Nathanael (St. Bartholomew)

Part 3. Christians are Small People by Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO BRING US JOY! by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV

“If God is with us who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). “Our help us in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Ps 124:8). “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” (Ps. 23:1). “The Lord is my Light and my strength” (Ps. 27:1). “Surely, I will be with you always, even until the end of time” (Mt. 28:20). “Have courage: I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33). “Rejoice in the Lord! I say it again: rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 4:4). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mt. 24:35). “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk. 1:46-47).

All of the above short but potent phrases come from the Bible, which is the living Word of God. No doubt these words give courage, comfort, strength and abundant consolation. As a sequel to the topic of encouragement, let us offer ten short reasons why we should be rejoicing constantly even when plunged in a series of complications, contradictions and crosses.

TEN SHORT REASONS TO REJOICE CONSTANTLY ON OUR PATHWAY TO HEAVEN!

1. HEAVEN. First and foremost, let us constantly remind ourselves as to our final destiny and the most consoling words of Jesus, Our Lord, God, Savior and Best Friend: “I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am you also might be.” (Jn. 14:3) That place is Heaven. Reflecting on being with Jesus, Mary, the angels and saints in heaven should fill us with an overflowing joy and hope.

2. SAINTS. You are never alone in the least. In all times, places and circumstances, your friends, the saints are present to you. They are ready and willing to lend a hand. Call upon them! Invoke them and they will turn to God to attain for you all the graces you need in the moment.

3. JESUS IN THE TABERNACLE. Once again, you are never alone, but sometimes Jesus in the Tabernacle suffers loneliness because all too few come to visit Him. However, once you give Jesus some time visiting Him, He will fill you with joy in His Presence. In the words of the Psalmist: “Look to the Lord and you will be filled with joy!” (Ps. 16:11)

4. THE WORD OF GOD. How fortunate indeed, better yet, how blessed we are to live in a time when all can have easy access to the Bible and even to have our own Bible. The Word of God gives light, encouragement, counsel, correction, insight, admonition, and serves as a sure bridge to unite time with eternity. If you find yourself down and in the dumps, pick up the Bible, the Word of God, read, meditate and God will speak to your heart.  “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” (Ps. 23:1)

5. CONFESSION. No doubt we are sinners and the just man falls seven times a day. However, how encouraging the words of Saint Paul to the Romans: “Where sin abounds, the mercy of God abounds all the more.” (Rom. 5:20) And also: “God is slow to anger and rich in kindness and mercy. (Ps. 145:8) If we fall: NUNC CAEPI!!! I will start again; I will get up and return to the loving embrace of my Heavenly Father, as so beautifully presented in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which can aptly be titled, the Parable of the Merciful Father. (Lk. 15:11-32)

6. THE SUNRISE AND LIGHT OF THE NEW DAY. As the sun rises every day, we call to mind the many times during the course of the day that a Catholic priest is lifting up Jesus, “The Sun of God” in the Mass in the moment of consecration. Every time the Host is lifted, may Jesus, the Sun of God be that bright star that rises in your heart!

7. FAITHFUL FRIENDS. We should call to mind the faithful friends, that we might even call “The Good Samaritans” (Lk. 10:25-37), that the good Lord has placed on the Highway of our life to lift us up, direct us, orient us, and possibly correct us. How many of these good persons, friends indeed, has God purposely planted in our way to become for us sure signposts to God? “Let us give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1)

8. THE HOLY EUCHARIST. And of the greatest importance in our lives is the reality of the most Holy Eucharist. Remember the classical words: The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Every consecrated Host is truly and substantially the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. However, Jesus rejoices most exceedingly when He enters into the depths of the heart of the person who truly loves Him. This should be our constant goal: to receive Jesus, the true Bread of Life, as often as possible. However, every Holy Communion received, should be received with greater fervor, devotion and love. The fire of love for the Eucharistic Lord should never wane and be blown out, but rather be transformed into a living conflagration—a wildfire of love for the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings!

9. THE COMPANY OF THE ANGELS. Sacred Scripture mentions three specific Archangels: St. Michael, meaning, Who is like unto God; St. Gabriel, Power of God; St. Raphael, Medicine of God. Only these three are named in the Bible among the countless number of angels in heaven. However, all these many angels in Heaven ardently desire to become your friends. They want to do all that is possible to help you arrive at your final destiny—Heaven. One of them is your Guardian Angel! Let us strive to be more aware of these Heavenly friends and invite them to be with us, to inspire us, to protect us, to console us and to point us always in the right direction towards Heaven.

10. MARY: THE QUEEN OF ANGELS AND THE QUEEN OF SAINTS. Among the many titles given to Mary is that of Queen of angels and Queen of saints. We also cry out to Mary in these consoling words: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Saint Therese of Lisieux pointed out Mary’s relationship to us in these words: “Mary indeed is Queen, but she is more Mother than Queen.” What overflowing and constant joy we should experience, keenly aware of the fact that Mother Mary is always, like at the Wedding Feast of Cana, ready to pray for us and intercede for us so that the bitter waters of our lives are transformed into the sweetest and the most exquisite of wines. Mother Mary, take me by the hand and place it in the Hand of Jesus my Lord, God, Friend, and Savior! Amen.

 PART 2: Reflection on the Call of Nathanael (St. Bartholomew)

• Are we friends of the Lord? Do we make known the glorious splendor of His Kingdom? Philip finds Nathanael and tells him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the Prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
• Nathanael’s reaction is, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” It was an insignificant village in the time of Jesus. Philip simply says, “Come and see.” He wants his friend to see and hear Jesus for himself.
• The Lord used Andrew to call his brother Peter. Now He uses Philip to call his friend Nathanael, later known as the Apostle Bartholomew. Who did the Lord use to call you to Him? Perhaps a parent or grandparent? A brother or sister? A priest? A friend? Your spouse? Let us thank God for the people who were instrumental in bringing us to the Lord!
• Has the Lord used you to call others to Him? Maybe a person new to the faith, or a person fallen away from the faith? Perhaps He wants you to say to someone right now, “Come and see.” Come to Mass with me… Come to confession with me… Come take the Spiritual Exercises with me on line – accompany them, walk with them through this life-transforming program so they can come to know Jesus more intimately, love Him more ardently, and follow Him more closely! Maybe you’re thinking, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord’s response is a resounding Yes!
• When we appear before Jesus in judgment, He will ask us this question, “Where are your children?” Meaning, where are your spiritual children! Everyone is called to be a spiritual father or mother! We should all have children in heaven! Who is it that we have invited to “come and see” the Lord… or return to the Lord… or encounter the Lord in a deeper way… or accept His mercy when death was approaching by bringing a priest to give them the last sacraments – Confession, Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick? Who is it that we are offering countless tears, prayers and sacrifices for so they may be saved, like Monica praying for Augustine???
• Nathanael doesn’t commit to anything, he only agrees to come and see. Sometimes that is all it takes! Jesus says, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Surprised Nathanael asks, “How do you know me?” “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
• Nathanael knows this is impossible, he wasn’t anywhere near Jesus! “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!” Nathanael goes from doubter to believer in an instant, because there is no duplicity in him! Sometimes we don’t believe because we don’t want to believe – we’re afraid of what Jesus might ask of us – we don’t want to give up our way of life, our self-love, our self-will, perhaps even certain sins.
• The psalmist says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” He is near to all who have no duplicity in them. We must come before the Lord in humility and honesty – ready to hear and deal with the truth! The truth hurts. The truth is a two edged sword, both wounding us and setting us free with self-knowledge!
• What is this self-knowledge? That we are small. All the good that we do is God’s grace; all we have that is our own, is our sins. Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel articulates this truth clearly! We cannot meditate on this too often. We can only beg to believe this with our whole heart and live this with our whole being!

 PART 3: Christians are Small People… by Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel (+1964)

The law of Christ may only be lived by people who are gentle and humble of heart. It is this gentleness and humility which are the characteristics of Jesus Christ in His filial love for God and His fraternal love for human beings. 

Whatever their personal gifts, Christians are small people. Small people, whatever their place in society, their jobs, their possessions, their class, their race, whatever the development and power of the human sciences, whatever the discoveries concerning the prodigious evolution of the human race and its history – in spite of all this, Christians remain people who are small.

Small in God’s presence because God created them and they depend on Him. Whatever the journeys that mark their lives and their fortunes, they came from God and they are going to God. They are gentle like weak, loving children, close to their Father who is strong and loving. They are small because they know that they are in God’s presence and they know only a few things, can do only a few things, and are limited in their love and in their knowledge. 

They do not argue about the will of God in the events that happen, nor do they argue about what Christ has commanded them to do, so that in these events they may themselves, for their part, do the will of God. They are gentle like the trusted and active performers of a work, the enormousness of which is hidden from them, while yet they know their own particular task.  End of Reflection

• For this reason, Jesus says to Nathanael: “You will see greater things than this. Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
• When we are “gentle like weak, loving children, close to their Father who is strong and loving” we see with the eyes of child-like faith the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man in the hands of the priest at the Consecration in every Mass and we adore Him!
• We see the angels of God surrounding the Son of Man in the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies! The angels etched on the glass doors behind the altar at St. Peter Chanel Church are kneeling in adoration before Jesus’ real Presence in the tabernacle, a constant reminder of this supernatural reality, and we adore Him!
• Let us beg Mary our Mother for the eyes and heart of child-like faith to see these supernatural realities. Then, let us ask others with conviction to “come and see” what we have seen!