Reflections of a beloved son

The portrait painted about the early Church by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles was one that expressed unity and communion.  We are told that "the community of believers was of one heart and mind" (Acts 4:32).  Then we are given a description of how they had put that "one heart and mind" into action - by sharing their time, talent, and treasure.  They were able to do so because they had one mission and were One in the Father. Are we a people of one heart and one mind?  This means do we have God in our hearts?  Do we root our identity and all that we do in the Father and His love?  Then we must ask do we see our mission as one.  The mission Jesus gave to His disciples was to proclaim the Good News to all nations and creatures.  This Good News is the Resurrection.  This Good News is the hope of eternal life.  This Good News is the ransom paid for our freedom from slavery to sin.  This Good News is the love of the Father. ...

" The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit " (Jn. 3:8).  From the commentaries, the ancient Christian writers point to this verse as the freedom of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and that the will of the Spirit is one with the Father.  I'd like to look at this from a slightly different perspective which St. John Chrysostom alludes in his homily. Just because you do not and cannot see the wind it does not mean it does not exist.  Furthermore, it does not mean that you do not know or do not believe that it exists.  As Chrysostom said, "If then you do not complain when you cannot see this body (the wind) and you still believe, why, when you hear of 'the Spirit,' do you hesitate and demand such exact accounts?" We should not need to "see" God to know that He exists.  Like the events that happened in history - some of...

" Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe " were the words Jesus said to Thomas in the locked room (Jn. 20:27). When the other Apostles had told Thomas that Jesus had appeared to them and that He has truly risen from the dead, he did not believe and said that unless he saw Him and touched His wounds for himself he would not believe.  So, Jesus came back and appeared to Thomas.  When Jesus came back to show Thomas that He truly has risen, He laid out everything - He showed him His wounds.  Jesus was basically saying, "Here, look.  Look at the nail marks and my pierced side.  Look.  Touch it.  Feel.  It's me."  I read in a meditation that because Jesus showed us His wounds we can bring our wounds to Him.  At Golgotha, Jesus was stripped of everything - His clothing, His rights, and His dignity.  Jesus gave up everything in order to give us everything...

Imagine this scenario: You are the homeroom teacher for one section of high school juniors.  Throughout the semester you have reminded them daily "Phones away during prayers and announcements."  The students had a rocky start but later caught on and were generally compliant and had no phones out during homeroom.  The end of the semester comes and everyone goes home for Christmas break.  Ten days later everyone comes back for the first day of the new semester.  It is 7:40AM and the first bell rings - a warning bell.  The bell rings again at 7:50AM.  Everyone is in their homerooms and prayers come on through loudspeaker.  You find that 70% of students have their phones out.  How do you respond? If I were the teacher I would be quite disappointed, but at the same time not completely shocked.  I don't want to say I expected it because I had hope that my students who continue with their good work - I mean not the entire class violated the...

" The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone " (Ps. 118:22).  This was pointing to Jesus, the stone, and the builders those who persecuted Him and crucified Him.  What the society deemed useless, unusable, and worthless God deemed useful, usable, and valuable. God does not seemingly choose the strong and the powerful to carry out his mission.  This is not because God sees them as less worthy or valuable, but because they are not open to receive the message God has for them.  With power and stature we sometimes, often, succumb to pride and forget how to be humble. Jesus sat with sinners, prostitutes, and those rejected by society.  The Pharisees ridiculed and rebuked Jesus for associating Himself with such people.  Yet, Jesus recognized and acknowledged their dignity - they were made in the likeness and image of God.  Those the people saw as not worthy to be associated with and less than society God chose to be instruments of His ...

The gift that the Lord first gives to His disciples after His Resurrection is peace.   " Peace be with you."   This peace is not just the warm, happy feeling that comes when the sun shines on our faces and the gentle breeze breathes on our skin.  This peace is the calming sense that overcomes us, easing troubled hearts and convinces doubtful minds.  The feeling of knowing that all will be well, according to the plan of God.  The knowledge that the victory has already been won.  The hope of eternal life and the "resurrection of the body."  Jesus showed the disciples His wounds, emphasizing that He is flesh (not a ghost) and that He is truly risen.  He then also "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures."  In doing so, He was strengthening and encouraging the disciples, moving them to belief and faith, and instilling hope in their hearts, hope and knowledge that all He had shared with them and all that was foretold about Him in the Scr...

While on the road to Emmaus, the two disciples were walking, debating all that had been taking place about Jesus.  A man approached them and they explained to him all that had took place.  The man, who is really Jesus, was unrecognizable to the disciples.  This was so maybe because they did not see with the eyes of faith.  They were perhaps discussing whether the things that had happened could possibly be true and if so, what it all meant.  Jesus said to them, " Oh, how foolish you are!  How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke ." Their hearts were not moved to believe - yet.   After saying this, Jesus began to explain all that the prophets had prophesied about Him.  In the midst of our unbelief and slow of heart, Jesus accompanies us and teaches us. As they approached Emmaus, they asked Jesus to stay with them.  Jesus agreed and followed them to their home.  "Stay with us."  The disciples asked, and Jesus wil...

Maybe sometimes we feel that we do not have much to give.  And so we do not give at all.   Peter and John knew that they themselves did not have much and could not give to the lame man what he was asking for, but they did know they had something else to give: the gift of faith.  In fact what they had to give was much more important and impactful than silver or gold.  What they had to offer seemed useless and impractical to the world - words? faith? "How can that fill my stomach?"  "How can that change my situation right now?" The lame man in the reading today (Acts 3:1-10) begged for alms, looked at Peter and John, and expected to receive something from them.  The Apostles said to him, " Look at us ," and Peter said " I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you ." We are told that the man expected to receive something from them - perhaps what he has been begging for: money.  I can just imagine this man sitting by the gate day ...

In today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:36-41), Peter speaks to the Jewish people on the day of Pentecost saying "...God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."  In other words, they have crucified and killed the Lord and the Christ.  The Scriptures tell us that " they were cut to the heart " upon hearing this.  Cut to the heart.  What does that mean? Perhaps we could understand "cut to the heart" as feeling hurt, pain, guilty, remorseful, shocked, or a multitude and combination of related emotions.  It could also have brought emotions of anger.  However, what is more important is how the people chose to respond to this very real emotion they were feeling.  Were their hearts softened?  Hardened? Fortunately some asked Peter, " What are we to do, my brothers? "  That feeling of being cut to the heart moved the peoples' hearts to conversion.  It was most likely the work of the Holy Spirit se...

We are told that “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples” (Mt. 28:8).    What made them “fearful yet overjoyed?” In the preceding verses we are told that they experienced an earthquake and witnessed the “angel of the Lord” come down, roll over the huge, heavy stone, and sat on it.    He told them that Jesus has been raised from the dead, invited them to see the empty tomb, and instructed them to go and tell the disciples.    So both Mary’s went on their way and while running Jesus came to meet them.  “ And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.    They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” We are told that Jesus went to meet the Mary’s.    I can only imagine Jesus’ coming to them further affirmed an...

Alleluia!  The tomb is empty!  We were not there in 33 A.D. to witness the Resurrection, yet we are still credible witnesses.  In fact we witness the Resurrection every time we go to Mass.  During or after the Lamb of God when the priest  in persona Christi capitis  (in the person of Christ the Head) breaks the host and places a small part of it into the chalice, there we see the Resurrection take place, when the blood “mingles” with the body.  Brothers and sisters, we are indeed witnesses!   St. Peter tells the disciples that they are witnesses of all the things Jesus did and said for they were with Him. Furthermore, he says “This man God raised on the third day and granted that  he be visible,  not to all the people, but to us,  the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:40-41).  The Resurrected Jesus is only visible to those who ...

"Cercate il Suo Volto" is Italian for "Seek His Face" (see Ps. 27:8). I first heard of the Italian phrase from the "Abba Pater" album by Pope John Paul II.  It was the first track of the album.  My high school Junior Theology teacher had introduced me to it and gave me a copy of it.  I am very grateful to him because it opened up for me a more in-depth interest, studying of, and reading of the Scriptures.  And, of course listening to the Pope recite it with inspiring and motivational music in the background made it all the better (not that the Word itself isn't good enough, but you know what I mean!).  Anyways, so why am I bringing this verse from Psalm 27 up?  "Seek His Face." On Holy Thursday we read in the Gospel that Jesus gave the Apostles an example of humble service and true leadership.  To serve is to lead, with love at its core.  On Good Friday we read the Passion Narrative where we hear Our Lord cry in fulfillment of the prophec...

After being scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, pushed and shoved to the ground, stripped of His clothes and human dignity, and nailed to the wood of the Cross, Jesus was left to die on the Cross from blood loss, exhaustion, dehydration, and I imagine fluid buildup in the chest cavity.  Yet, on the Cross Our Lord was concerned only with the Father's will.  When the time had come, Jesus said to those keeping watch - " I thirst ." Not really for water, but Jesus was saying "I thirst for love of you."   The Cross was and remains the loudest and greatest expression of the Father's love for His children, us.  By dying Jesus destroyed death, and by rising He restored life.  Jesus destroyed death in that those who are baptized never really die despite bodily death, and He restored life by bringing about eternal life when he descended into Hell and broke through those gates.  From the pierced side of Jesus flowed the living waters that wash away our sins an...

" Then he poured water into a basin   and began to wash the disciples' feet   and dry them with the towel around his waist " (Jn. 13:5).   At the Last Supper, Jesus showed His Apostles what real leaders, real men, and real Christians do - they serve .  To lead is to serve and to serve is to love.     At the heart of leadership and service is love - love with humility.  This was the lesson that Jesus wanted His Apostles to learn at the Last Supper.  Just imagine that.  Jesus knew this was the final time He would recline at dinner with these men in this way.  And out of anything He could have focused on, He chose to teach and model a lesson of loving service.  " I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do " (Jn. 13:15).   When I have been asked to lead, do I do so with a mindset of service?  Is love and service at the heart of all that I do?   Jesus chos...

" What are you willing to give me? " was the question Judas asked the chief priests if he were to hand Jesus over to them (Mt. 26:15).  I wonder how that encounter played out.  What was going through Judas' mind?  What was he feeling?  Why did he even go to chief priests?  How did he feel when he was given the 30 pieces of silver?  As for the chief priests - what were they feeling?  Did they feel excited?  Relieved?  Did they have a meeting after Judas left with the money? With 30 pieces of silver Judas betrayed Jesus.  With his very own person Jesus redeemed all man.  Jesus knew that Judas had betrayed Him, and that he was going to hand Him over when the appointed time had come, yet Jesus never acted coldly towards him.  "When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve " (Mt. 26:20).  Jesus still loved Judas and counted him among His family .  To share a meal and to break bread together is something that ...

Selections from Part III of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son **If you would like the audio of the talks from any of the three parts, please comment below with your email address (if that is possible). Part III: The Invitation – Resistance and Humility While the YS was away from home and while the father was waiting, what could the older son have been doing all along?   Holding onto grudges?   Upset with the father because he gave the younger brother the share of the inheritance?   He is stuck with all the work?   Upon hearing the rejoicing and celebrating, the older son is confused as to what is happening.   He is angry, upset, and jealous.   He does not understand the father.   You must know someone before you can understand them.   Even though the son has been with the father all this time, he does not know him. Do we know the father?   Do I know that I am His beloved? The father comes out.   Again, th...

The major "theme" of the Lenten season can be described by this line of Scripture: " Repent and believe in the Gospel " (Mk. 1:15).  To repent can mean to "turn away from" or to "convert."  To repent is to look into our hearts, see what is not of God, acknowledge it, and turn to God, asking Him for the grace to leave behind those things.  We all have demons to face.  We all have weaknesses and flaws to confront.  We all have urges and tendencies to abandon.  We all have to seek the mercy of the Father.  Judas of Iscariot held the role of treasurer among the Apostles and it was the object of this position that he ultimately traded for his friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The love of money, for Judas, brought him to his demise.  He allowed greed to take over.  When Judas realized what he had done he returned the money but his heart was too filled with guilt, remorse, and shame that he was unable to see the Father's love and to receive t...

" Stand up for what you believe in! "  It's a cry that we often hear.  But, it's really nothing new or fresh.  People in the ancient times also stood up for what they believed and some even died fighting for it.  What about something makes people want to risk everything fighting for it?  What is it about something that makes the risk of losing everything worth it?  What do you stand up for? In the Gospel, Lazarus, Jesus' friend, died but was raised up again by the Lord.  His sisters, Martha and Mary were heartbroken when their brother died.  Just imagine having to watch your brother die, put his dead body into the tomb, and roll the stone over the entrance.  They must have been experiencing a multitude of emotions - anger, confusion, sadness, unbelief, and perhaps hope.  When Jesus arrived, the sisters were weeping and one of the sisters pleaded with Jesus in grief, saying that if He had been there earlier, her brother would not have d...

Sometimes we may feel like saying that to someone: " You know nothing... about me, about this situation, about anything. "  Think of a time when you had that experience.  What was happening?  Who was the other person?  What did you say or do?  How did it play out? In today's Gospel reading ( Jn. 11:45-56 ), after having listened to the Pharisees and Chief Priests bicker, debate, and discuss what to do with Jesus, the High Priest, Caiaphas said to them "You know nothing."  Then what followed was the suggestion that putting one man - Jesus - to death would be quite worth it in order to save the entire nation to perish.  Even though what was said seemed harsh, it was a prophecy.  It was a prophecy spoken by the High Priest that year, the instrument chosen by the Father to use to deliver such a prophecy.  Though Caiaphas thought only of saving the Jewish people by cutting ties with this Jesus by calling for His death, the prophecy, in the plan ...

We often hear people say "Practice what you preach" or "Say what you mean, and mean what you say."  That's a question we must ask ourselves and reflect upon: do we mean what we say, and do our lives reflect that?  Jesus challenges and questions the Pharisees.  They claim that they are Abraham's children and descendants, but are they really doing what Abraham had taught or what he himself would be doing?  If they were doing so, they would be listening and accepting the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Son of Man.  But, instead they are questioning His Authority, His Sonship, and His teachings.  They are certainly not practicing what they claim to preach and further more they are not being who they say they are.  By their actions and inactions they have compromised their identity. How about us?  Do we act in the way that shows our authentic self?  If we claim to be someone, do we live up to that?  We are children of God.  ...

Selections from Part II of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Part II: The Encounter – Reconciliation and Communion “His father caught sight of him.”   What was the father doing all this time?   When the son petitioned to leave, the Father did not plead and cling on to the son.   He lets him go, not because he did not love him.   But because the Father loved him.   In loving him, the Father allowed the son to act in freedom and exercise his free will.   The father said, “Okay, here is your share.   If you want to, you can go.   I will not stop you. The world is not pretty.   It can only offer you temporary comfort and happiness.   You can go, but know that when you go, you will experience pain and suffering.   You will experience a profound sense of loss and lacking.   You will be hurt.   You will be rejected.   But you can go.   Go, but know that this will always be your home.   You ma...

In the Gospel we are presented with the incident where the woman and man were caught in the very act of adultery, and the Pharisees have seized the woman and is about to carry out the consequence that such an act warranted: stoning.  In an attempt to test Jesus, they asked Him what they should should do for the Law of Moses said to stone her.  Jesus' initial response was silence.   I love this silence.  Oftentimes it is the silence that speaks the loudest.  Think about it.  What could the Pharisees have been thinking: "why isn't He saying anything...?"  Then Jesus bends down and begins to write something with his finger on the ground.  Scripture doesn't tell us what He writes.  The people couldn't deal with the silence so they asked the question again and Jesus said, " Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her ."  What a statement.  The people began to gradually disappear one after another....

" Does our law condemn a man before it first hearts him and finds out what he is doing? "  This is what Nicodemus asked his fellow Pharisee brothers.  They ridiculed him.    Do I judge someone's character before getting to know them?   It is so easy to do so. The scenario in today's Gospel (Jn. 7:40-53) is that there are people who are beginning to believe that Jesus is "the Prophet" and "the Christ," because they have "heard these words of Jesus."  But in order to see what "these words" were we must rewind a bit in John's gospel.  These are the words that Jesus said: "Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: 'Rivers of flowing water will flow from within him'" (Jn. 7:37b-38).  Jesus was promising the sending of the Holy Spirit.  Because the people listen to what Jesus was saying and spent time trying to get to know Him, they came to believe. In order to g...