Reflections of a beloved son

“‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest.’” Matthew 13:28b-30a We can see that in this world of ours there is evil. Bad things happen. Bad choices are seemingly glorified. We want to see good people thrive and evil people punished for their actions and decisions, but very often we see good people suffer and those who do evil thrive and continue to grow strong. We may be tempted to be the judge and take matters into our own hands. But we must be careful. We are not the judge, for there is only one judge. We are however called to stand up for Truth and to love. To love includes instructing those who are wandering down a wrong path. And this takes a huge amount of patience. To live in this world, we must always remember who we are and what we are called to do. We must learn to live in the world but never become of it. As long as we live in the world, there will b...

“Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.” Matthew 12:1 When Jesus and His disciples were traveling on the road, His disciples got hungry and so they plucked some grain to eat. The Pharisees got on their case and asked Jesus why His followers were doing things that went against the law. Picking the grains was not unlawful it was doing it on the Sabbath that was unlawful. But the Sabbath was made for man not the other way around. The whole point of the Sabbath was to rest in the Lord to praise Him and thank Him for all that He has done in our lives, and here the disciples were with Jesus, walking with Him – they were resting with the Lord, doing what was intended for the Sabbath. Sometimes we can get caught up in the fine details and lose sight of the bigger picture. When we nitpick the small things we forget the important things. The important thing is that we rest in the Lord on the Sabbat...

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Matthew 10:40 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time What does it mean to be hospitable or to be a good host? Am I kind to people because they have been kind to me or because I know they will be kind back? Am I generous with someone because I know they have the capability and means to pay me back? A true spirit of giving and hospitality is one that consists of no other intent than to give. Meaning if I am doing something for an ulterior motive then I am doing it for the wrong reason. I can think of so many times when I do something, yes at face value I am doing it simply because I know it’s the right thing to do, but deep down I hope for something in return.   If we are really to do something for someone then we really should not expect or even want anything in return. It is easier to be generous and kind to someone we know or like, but it’s not as easy when it comes to someone we do...

When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple, they asked Him why He had run off and did what He had done. Jesus was seemingly puzzled and asked why they were worried and explained that of course He’d be in His Father’s house. We are told that Jesus followed His parents back home and was obedient to them, while Mary pondered and kept all that had happened in her heart.   Mary must have been afraid, hoping nothing bad had happened to Jesus, and when she found Him, He seemed indifferent. How hurt Mary’s heart must have been, but she kept it in her heart. Perhaps she did not understand then, but she soon came to see that whatever Her Son ended up doing would be the Father’s will. In Jesus’ mind, the Father’s will always came first, and Mary understood that because she too said “yes” years ago. There will be times in our lives when we get upset or angry or frustrated because of what someone may say or do. Sometimes those whom we love will do things that will cause us pain. Yet, ou...

We are chosen! The Lord tells us that we are sacred to Him and that we are peculiarly or particularly His own. God has set His heart on the Israelites and sets His heart on us today.  Today in the Church we celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On the Cross Jesus’ side and heart was pierced for love of us. Out of his pierced side and heart flowed water and blood, the waters of baptism, and the blood that nourishes and sustains us, giving birth to the Church. With His pierced and sacred heart, Jesus understands the depth of human pain and suffering. And He draws all people, those who were chosen by the Lord, to Himself, to rest in the embrace of His Sacred Heart. We have been chosen because the Lord has set His heart on us, and it is because He loved us that He sent His Son, whose heart was pierced and from that heart came indescribable healing.  In His heart is unfathomable love, boundless mercy, infinite compassion, and unimaginable peace. The pierced became the sacred. The wo...

In today’s world we always have the temptation to want to be seen and known. And sometimes we even portray someone we are not. Sometimes we do things or say things just to get noticed or to be praised, even when it’s not something that comes from our hearts. All this we do because we want to be heard and to be loved. Sometimes we get misunderstood, and I think that’s one of the most distressing experiences because you mean well but it’s being taken as something else.   It’s a most horrible feeling. Even when those around us may misunderstand us, God does not. He knows our intentions. God sees all that we do and all our efforts, even when others can’t see them or refuse to see them, God sees them. God sees what other cannot see – God sees what is hidden, God looks into the depths of our hearts and then looks at us with the eyes of love, telling us, “I know. It’s okay, I know. I see you. I am here with you. I love you.” At the end of the day, we do what we do because we hope to s...

We are asked to be perfect.   What does that mean? Perhaps when we hear it, we think of acing everything.   Perfect attendance.   100’s.   No mistakes. No faults, no weaknesses.   But how?   We are human. How can Jesus ask that of us? In the Greek, the word translated into “perfect” actually comes from the word meaning “end.”   Not the end of something, but the end for which we were created.   And we were created for love and joy.   So perhaps Jesus was not saying that we MUST be perfect and make no mistakes, but rather we must always remember that we were loved into existence and that love and God is our end, that which our lives are directed. We are sinners and we are human – we will make mistakes but that doesn’t make God love us any less. God is our end. May we live our lives knowing this truth – the truth that our end is joy and peace and love, life with the Father, and when we live striving for that we will have reached our end. ...

Our natural human instinct tells us to respond in an equal or greater manner when something is done to us. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” It only makes sense, right?   We can’t let people walk all over us and we need to let them know that. That’s our human instincts. But we have been touched by the divine and Jesus came so that we may share in His divinity. And because of that, how we respond ought to be different. Jesus offered a drastically different approach to retaliation. Instead of slapping someone back we are asked to turn the other cheek. Rather than just doing the bare minimum we are asked to go the extra mile.   And when someone asks something of us, we are asked to not turn our backs on them, even if they had not been kind to us. This goes against our instincts. This only makes sense if and when we realize that Jesus was trying to tell the people that “it’s never about you.” Life is not about “you.” Our lives are to be lived for others. When we come to ...

Our world today has seemingly adopted a culture of death. This culture of death is disguised as the freedom to choose and the freedom to live life as one sees best and ultimately as happiness. But as its name implies, this culture ultimately leads to death. Pursuing life in a selfish and self-centered manner will lead not only to unhappiness but also death. What is life without love?  What is life when other people are not around you? That is no life. That is death. Life only makes sense with love. And love, true love, is laying down one’s life for another. True love is selfless and others-centered, but we can only come to realize this when we see and know how much we have been loved and continue to be loved. God loved us so much that He became man for us, and not only that, He came to us in a manner that aims to sustain us not just for a moment but for eternity. God became man because He wanted us to know that we were made for life and for love. The only way to live and to love is...

It is the clean of heart that will see God.  What does that mean?  Have you ever felt so disgusted by someone or something because of what they may have done or said that you couldn’t bear to look at them? I know I have.  Those are the moments when I have failed to see God.   You see, seeing God and Christ in others has nothing to do with what they do or say, even if it is the most horrendous or disgusting thing. They and we will have to face the appropriate consequences for our actions and words, but if we have failed to see Christ in the other, it is our problem.  “ Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.”  I have failed to see God in the other because of my tainted heart – my pride, my ego, my jealousy, my envy, my attachment to the world. All people are made in the image and likeness of God, and so no matter what someone may say or do, they remain a child of God, they remain a beloved son or daughter of the Father. Jesus came for the sin...

As Catholic Christians we believe in the Trinity, that is that there are Three Divine Persons in One God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are of the same substance, and each is not a part of a whole. There are one but distinct. Drawing from St. Augustine, they are a community of love where the Father is the lover, the Son is the beloved, and the Holy Spirit is the love that exist within that community. The Trinity exists as a relationship. Our God is a relational God, and God wants a relationship with us. The Father calls out to us and sent us His Son, Jesus who came to give us life and to bring us to the Father, who sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always, reminding us of how much we are loved. The Trinity is a mystery, which means we may never really fully understand it, but we don’t need to. We only need to believe. Our faith and belief is our response to the call of the Father. This call of the Father is an invitation to be in relationship with Him and the Son and the Holy Spiri...

It is not in God’s nature to be unfaithful. To be faithful seemingly then is part of God’s very nature. Our nature does not change with the world around us. Our nature dictates who we are and what we are made of and made for: love. Being unfaithful is not compatible with love, and since God is love, God cannot but be faithful, even when we are not and when we choose to reject Him. Even if we choose to leave Him, He remains faithful and is always waiting for us to come home. He is the Father who never ceases to look for us, and when we do return, He embraces us, welcomes us, and looks tenderly upon us. Let us always remember that who we are does not come from what others may say or believe about us. Our identity and our nature are unchanging because it is rooted in God, who is eternal! Our dignity does not come from man, but from God. Others may talk bad about us and reject us, but the truth that we are loved doesn’t change one bit. Though God may always remain faithful, we may not....

Power. Love. Self-control. These were the three things St. Paul reminded of Timothy. “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” Power does not mean dominating the weak or less fortunate, but rather recognizing our weaknesses and letting go of our pride and putting on humility. Love does not mean seeking out pleasure, but rather laying down our lives for others. Power and love are wonderful things, but the world has distorted it. All things that are good are used for the good of others. Power and love are used for the good of others. May we ask the Lord to remove our selfish ambitions and grant us the grace to live selfless lives, bearing witness to the Gospel.

Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Church. On that day the Holy Spirit descended upon the people and the barriers that separated them were taken down. The people were all together – the apostles, the disciples, and Mary. They were bound together by the love of God and they were ready and open to receive the Holy Spirit into their hearts. Though the people were from different places and spoke different languages they were able to understand one another because the Gospel is one and the same. The Gospel and the love of God transcends all barriers, even language barriers. The language of the Gospel is the language of love, a language that speaks from the heart to the heart. With the Spirit we will be able to weather the storms of our lives joyfully because Jesus comes to us and says, “Peace be with you.” The world today is filled with violence and unrest because as a people we are divided. The people at Pentecost were united in the love of God, and because they were united together...

After Jesus told Peter what would happen to him, he turned to John and asked Jesus, “ What about him?” Peter was so interested in the affairs of others that Jesus had to remind him to focus on what he had been asked to do. Sometimes in our lives we may get carried away in the affairs of others that we forget what we are supposed to do. In the midst of trying to make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do, we neglect what we’ve been asked to do. Our mission as disciples is not to micromanage and become busybodies but rather to root who we are and what we do in Christ and from there bring others the hope and the joy of the Gospel not merely by our lips but by our actions and example.  After Jesus had reprimanded him, Peter shifted his focus on what the Lord asked him to do – “Feed my sheep.” He kept his eyes on Christ, knowing that only by doing so will he be able to carry out what Jesus instructed him to do. As Christians our focus can sometimes be lost in the world of...

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks Peter this question three times. Each time He gives Peter a command and mission. Jesus was restoring Peter to his place and reminding him of the great task that He has entrusted to him – to be the shepherd of His flock here on earth. For every time Peter denied Him, Jesus gave him the opportunity to reconcile. Afterwards Jesus described to Peter the nature of discipleship – we will sometimes be led to where we rather not go. Then Jesus extends to Peter the invitation, “Follow me.” When we fall short, Jesus asks us, “Do you love me” not to make us feel guilty, but to remind us of how much He loves us. He only seeks to forgive, reconcile, restore, and invite.  Today, Jesus invites us to relationship with Him. He asks us, “Do you love me?” He meets us where we are and walks with us as we journey along. He sees our wounds, pains, brokenness, and says to us “I love you. Just as I show you my wounds so you can show me yours. Our wounds are not something to ...

You were created out of love for love. You are loved not because of what you can do, what you have, or what others say about you. True and genuine love cannot be bought or earned. It can only be received and given. God loves you, but you have to receive it. You cannot really love anyone else, including yourself, if you do not receive love. You can't give what you don't have. The world will tell you that you are loved only to the extent you can perform and that others will love you more or less based on that. That's a lie! You are loved and you have been loved from all eternity. And that is the Truth. We belong to the Truth.  This Truth is so true that God became man for you and me. It's time to receive God's love. Pray with me, "Come into my heart, Lord. I am ready to receive your love."

Eternal life does not only begin when we die. The world preaches a world of immediate pleasures and gratification and a disordered understanding of "living in the present moment." For today's world "living in the present moment" means to take advantage of everything and everyone for our own benefit and pleasure. "You only live once." We all want to live joyful and full lives but living it in a way that pursues selfish pleasure does not lead to it. Jesus tells us that to know Him and the Father is to have eternal life. Eternal life begins now. To live in the present moment and to seize the day is to live eternal life - living life to the full, living life knowing we have been so loved and blessed. So loved and blessed not because we earned it, but because we have a Father who loves us for who we are.

Though it may sometimes feel this way, we are not alone in this world or in our struggles. It is a common temptation to feel that no one else in this world understands what we may be going through, but there is always someone who does. By sharing our own experiences with one another, others may suddenly see that flicker of light in the darkness. Our experiences may bring someone from despair to hope. Never underestimate the power of one's witness and testimony. When we speak from the heart, it is Christ who speaks and works through us. Heart speaks to heart.

We have been loved from all eternity. The Lord delights in YOU! It does not matter what you've done or where you've been. His love and delight in you is not dependent on any of those things. Receive His love and delight, and allow Him to transform your life. When you finally experience and feel this infinite and unconditional love of God for you, you can not but be filled with gratitude, moving you to conversion. God's delight and love for you is a transformative gift.