Daily Writing
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November 3, 2010
November 4th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 5 Period I.The Novena Rosary Mysteries
for November 4th are Sorrowful.
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Guiding Light - Cycle A
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
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Given November 2, 2010 - All Souls Day
Abraham
Birth
Genesis 3: 16
To the woman he said:
I shall give you intense pain
in childbearing,
you will give birth to your children
in pain.
Your yearning will be for your husband,
and he will dominate you.
Death
Mark 13: 33
‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.
R. Even animals are carried by their mother —
babies are born in labor —
Genesis 2: 7-9, 13-17
Yahweh God shaped man from the soil of the ground and blew the breath of life into his nostrils, and man became a living being.
Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, which is in the east, and there he put the man he had fashioned. From the soil, Yahweh God caused to grow every kind of tree, enticing to look at and good to eat, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The second river is named the Gihon, and this winds all through the land of Cush. The third river is named the Tigris, and this flows to the east of Ashur. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Yahweh God took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and take care of it. Then Yahweh God gave the man this command, ‘You are free to eat of all the trees in the garden. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat; for, the day you eat of that, you are doomed to die.’
Romans 5: 12-19
Well then; it was through one man that sin came into the world, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin already existed in the world before there was any law, even though sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Nonetheless death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sin was not the breaking of a commandment, as Adam's was. He prefigured the One who was to come . . .
There is no comparison between the free gift and the offence. If death came to many through the offence of one man, how much greater an effect the grace of God has had, coming to so many and so plentifully as a free gift through the one man Jesus Christ! Again, there is no comparison between the gift and the offence of one man. One single offence brought condemnation, but now, after many offences, have come the free gift and so acquittal! It was by one man’s offence that death came to reign over all, but how much greater the reign in life of those who receive the fullness of grace and the gift of saving justice, through the one man, Jesus Christ. One man’s offence brought condemnation on all humanity; and one man’s good act has brought justification and life to all humanity. Just as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience are many to be made upright.
Matthew 4: 1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the desert to be put to the test by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was hungry, and the tester came and said to him, ‘If you are Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says:
Human beings live not on bread alone
but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God.’The devil then took him to the holy city and set him on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:
He has given his angels orders about you,
and they will carry you in their arms
in case you trip over a stone.’Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says:
Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all these, if you fall at my feet and do me homage.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Away with you, Satan! For scripture says:
The Lord your God is the one
to whom you must do homage,
him alone you must serve.’Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels appeared and looked after him.
Guiding Light - Cycle A
By Joe Robinson
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1st Sunday of Lent
February 10, 2008
INTRODUCTION: Today’s first reading tells us the story of the creation of our first parents, their temptation and their fall from grace. This does not pretend to be a documentary of what happened one or two million years earlier. It is more like a parable that attempts to understand the problem of evil. God created the human race to be happy and to share in his grace and friendship. This is indicated by the Garden of Eden. This story of Adam and Eve tells us the source of evil is our decision to give in to temptation, to not trust, to make our own rules, to use the free will which God gave us to say “no” to God. The story shows us that we bring suffering upon ourselves as a result. Pau, in the second reading, reflects on this sinful tendency in all of us. But his emphasis is on the good news that Christ can save us from sin.
HOMILY: A teacher asked her little children in religion class to draw a picture of their favorite bible story. One small boy drew the picture of an elderly gentleman, elegantly dressed, driving a big convertible. In the back of the car were two people, hardly dressed at all. The teacher thought it was an interesting picture and asked what it meant. The young artist was surprised the teacher had to ask, but he explained that was God driving Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.
Today’s gospel, where Jesus refuses to give in to temptation, is contrasted with the first reading where Adam and Eve did give in. We’ll never know precisely what their sin was, but it doesn’t matter. Ultimately their sin was no different than ours, a decision not to trust God when he tells us to do or not to do something. Even though Adam and Eve gave in to sin, we can’t be too condemning of them. We might not have done any better ourselves.
Temptation is always a matter of thinking we can be happier without God’s direction or help. The grace to resist temptation is always available to us, but we don’t always use it. All of us are tempted. Even Jesus himself was tempted. Did you notice how Jesus always answered the devil with a quote from scripture. It shows how knowing scripture can be a real help to resist temptation. Then again, the devil quoted scripture too, so we have to know it well.
We always begin the season of Lent with Jesus in the desert. I want to say a word or two about the desert. Jesus was sent there by the Holy Spirit right after his baptism. It was a time to reflect and pray, a time of transition from the workshop to his work of teaching and healing. We all need to go into the desert from time to time. Sometimes the Holy Spirit takes us there by denying to us for a time the joys and consolations that we would like our religion to bring us. Sometimes life itself takes us into a desert, with the loss of a loved one or a job or our health, or a feeling that we’ve lost our purpose. Our faith is really tested during such times. That’s when we wonder whether God still loves us, whether God is still with us. Lent is a kind of little desert as we are encouraged to temporarily back away from a few of life’s pleasures, pleasures that distract us from reflecting on the more serious side of life. Often I minister to people who are dying. It’s not unusual for someone to say to me: “I never thought this would happen to me.” I guess they never thought about what was ahead for all of us. Life could be over for any of us tomorrow. The important thing to know is that eternal life is ahead for us too if we remain faithful to our Lord and follow him. Jesus told us he would prepare a place for us in his Father’s home and he will never
reject anyone who comes to him. But we do have the freedom to turn away from him by not following the way he has shown us. Indeed, these are profound thoughts, but that’s what Lent is for, to think and pray about these things.
Genesis 12: 1-4
Yahweh said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house for a country which I shall show you; and I shall make you a great nation, I shall bless you and make your name famous; you are to be a blessing!
I shall bless those who bless you,
and shall curse those who curse you,
and all clans on earth
will bless themselves by you.’So Abram went as Yahweh told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy–five years old when he left Haran.
2 Timothy 1: 8-10
So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to our Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but share in my hardships for the sake of the gospel, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy-not because of anything we ourselves had done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has been revealed only by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus. He has abolished death, and he has brought to light immortality and life through the gospel,
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus.
2nd Sunday of Lent
February 17, 2008 (excerpt)
INTRODUCTION: Sin is a reality of life. We heard about that last week with the story of Adam and Eve. Grace, too, is a reality of life. St. Paul tells us God wants all people to be saved, which implies he will give each person sufficient grace for salvation. God’s ways are often hidden from us, but his saving work became visible and a part of the history of the world with his call to Abraham. Abraham came from Sumer, a settlement near modern day Kuwait. He and his family migrated to Haran, a city in the northern part of Syria, near Turkey. Eventually he heard God’s call to leave his kinfolk behind and move to the land of Canaan, modern day Israel. He left behind a prosperous commercial area to settle in a land that was still relatively primitive and undeveloped. Abraham made the long and difficult journey at the tender age of 75 along with his wife, Sarah, who was 10 years younger. God was telling them, not only to pack up and move to an unknown territory, but to start a family there as well! It was a pure act of faith on the part of Abraham to follow God’s call and to believe in the blessings God kept promising him, promises we hear in today’s first reading.
HOMILY: We sang in the psalm refrain “Lord let your mercy be on us as we place our trust in you.” Trust, or faith, in God is one of the most basic elements of our relationship with him. Without trust, our relationship will go nowhere. In the stories in the Bible about Abraham we see a man who trusted God totally. Peter, James and John get a boost to their faith on Mount Tabor with Jesus when they experienced Jesus’ transfiguration.
I am sure many people here have climbed a mountain or high hill and experienced the presence and grandeur of God, maybe not as dramatic as the three apostles did in the transfiguration, but God’s presence could be felt none the less. One of the most memorable days I ever had was the day I climbed Mt. Sinai, a mountain in the southern portion of Sinai Peninsula where tradition has it that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It is part of a chain of rugged, reddish colored granite mountains that rise high into the air. Mt. Sinai itself is 7500 feet high. The view of the stark and arid mountains surrounding Mt. Sinai is spectacular.
If you’ve never climbed a real mountain, I’m sure you’ve climbed many mountains figuratively: mountains of ignorance to become educated, mountains of fear to discover new strength and courage, mountains of hurt and sickness to find healing, mountains of pride to discover we are not the center of the universe. In conquering such everyday heights, we discover the God who never leaves us. Peter, James and John on Mt. Tabor discovered the God that was hidden within Jesus who was always with them. ...
R. Here is what Fr. Joe said Cycle C about abortion —
As we meditate on the Mysteries of Light let us think
of His words regarding John the Baptist
and the Transfiguration from the preceding scripture —
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
Guiding Light - Cycle C
4th Sunday of Advent
December 24, 2006 (excerpt)
HOMILY: ... Sometimes I hear the argument from those who support abortion that we don’t know when the human soul comes into a fetus. Jesus could have been only a few days old, for the gospel tells us Mary went to Elizabeth “with haste” after the annunciation. John the Baptist, still unborn, and Elizabeth recognized Mary was carrying within herself something infinitely more than just a blob of tissue. They recognized the wonderful presence of the Son of God and they were filled with joy.
The whole passage is bursting with joy. Elizabeth was excited by Mary’s visit. John the Baptist, three months from being born was jumping for joy. The Church has taught that at that moment John was set free from original sin and filled with God's grace. Christ came to him before he was born, he was as it were, baptized or christened. Generally the Church celebrates the feast day of a saint only on their date of death, because that’s the day they are born into eternal life. But there are only three holy people whose birthday the Church celebrates, Jesus, Mary and John the Baptist, because they were already in God's grace when they were born. But as Christ came to John before his birth, Christ came to each of us on the day we were reborn through the sacrament of baptism. That should cause all of us to jump for joy, knowing that Christ has come to us, that he has given us his grace and has chosen us to be children of God.
Elizabeth said to Mary “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” The Greek word used here for “blessed” also means “happy.” Mary was happy because she truly believed what the Lord had spoken to her and if you get out your bibles and read what follows today’s gospel passage, you will see how truly happy she was. She sang a beautiful hymn of praise to God, a hymn known as the Magnificat. It is this song of praise that we will use for our offertory hymn. Do we really want to be happy? This is the key, do not doubt God, do not doubt his love, do not doubt his presence, do not doubt his teachings. He doesn’t always do things the way we think he should, and we don’t always know what he thinking. That’s why we just have to trust him. Mary didn’t always know either what he was up to, but she trusted him always and was always ready to say as her son would in his own life “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”
In a short time we will celebrate the birth of Mary’s son. May we always feel the joy that his birth can give us, the assurance that in Jesus God is with us and God loves us. Amen.
Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
Then taking him outside, he said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Just so will your descendants be," he told him. Abram put his faith in Yahweh and this was reckoned to him as uprightness.
He then said to him, "I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldaeans to give you this country as your possession." "Lord Yahweh," Abram replied, "how can I know that I shall possess it?" He said to him, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon." He brought him all these, split the animals down the middle and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not divide. And whenever birds of prey swooped down on the carcases, Abram drove them off.
Now, as the sun was on the point of setting, a trance fell on Abram, and a deep dark dread descended on him.
When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passing between the animals' pieces. That day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram in these terms:
"To your descendants I give this country,
from the River of Egypt
to the Great River,
the River Euphrates,
Guiding Light - Cycle C
Second Sunday of Lent
– (Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17–4:1; Luke 9:28b-36) Almost 4000 years ago, God made awesome promises to a man named Abram about how he would inherit much land, would have so many descendants they could not be counted, even how the whole world would be blessed through him. Abram had no evidence that these promises would ever be fulfilled. He asked God for some assurance that they would. So God gave Abram a special sign. It may seem complicated to us but it would have been easily understood by Abram. It was the way people made covenants or contracts in those days. The ritual of cutting an animal in half and walking between the halves was a symbolic way of saying “may the same thing happen to me as to this animal if I am unfaithful to my word.” God is often represented as fire, and in this experience only God moved in-between the two halves of the animals. This indicated that God was not asking Abram to promise anything. God asked only for Abram’s trust.March 4, 2007
INTRODUCTION
HOMILY
– As our lives move along, there are disappointments but there are also hopes and promises that we look forward to. Abram (later named Abraham) looked forward to the promise of land, many descendants and numerous blessings. In an ecstatic experience God assured him his hopes would be fulfilled.Jesus had several times warned his apostles that he would suffer and die. Now he gave three of them a special experience to help them know what was ahead, that his death would lead to glory. It was a glory so wonderful that they didn’t want it to stop. They wanted to set up tents on the mountain, not for themselves but for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, and they wanted to stay there indefinitely. But it wasn’t to be. They still had to go through challenging and difficult times before they came to the glory they had seen. Matthew and Mark leave us in the dark regarding what Jesus was talking about with Moses and Elijah, but Luke tells us they were talking about Jesus’ departure from this world by his death in Jerusalem. That departure is translated here by the word “exodus.” Jesus had to leave this world to enter into the glory that was ahead. Luke has thus allowed us to see there is a definite connection between the transfiguration and Jesus’ passion. Perhaps the experience of the transfiguration was meant to give strength and hope to Peter, James, and John, to help them survive Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Perhaps it was a gift from God the Father to Jesus to help bolster his commitment to be faithful to his mission. Whatever it was, it was a promise of future glory and an assurance that God would not let down those who trusted in him.
When Peter wanted to put up three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, it is always understood that he was enjoying this ecstatic experience and didn’t want it to end, and this is true. But I wonder whether Peter, in his way of thinking, was making Jesus equal to Moses and Elijah. He said: “Let us make three tents,” as if Jesus were a great leader on a par with Moses and Elijah. God the Father’s words: “This is my chosen Son” let the apostles know that Moses and Elijah were great men and great prophets, but Jesus is God’s Son and no one could ever be on the same level with him.
If the transfiguration is a promise of future glory for Jesus and the Apostles, St. Paul gives us a promise of future glory for us when he tells us today “our citizenship is in heaven.” We are only tourists in this world and it’s not our true home. We must always have our bags packed because we never know when we will be called to move on. And we will be called. Paul tells us God “will change our lowly bodies to conform with his glorified body.” We will be transfigured also. Lent helps us remember to be ready to move on and to make any changes in our lives we need to make, so we will be ready to meet our God in eternal glory.
Mass is always an assurance and a promise of what’s ahead, especially in Communion. The consecrated bread and wine are Jesus’ body and blood. We are reminded of his death for us. We are also assured that he hasn’t left us orphans, but he is still with us and in Communion he wants us to be more closely united with himself. Someday we will enjoy perfect union when we will not have to experience him through signs and sacraments. We will know him directly and intimately. When we come to that stage, like the three apostles at the transfiguration, we won’t ever want to leave. Unlike the apostles, we won’t have to.
Fr. Joe Robinson
Guiding Light - Cycle C
Genesis 14: 18-20
Melchizedek king of Salem brought bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. He pronounced this blessing:
Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be God Most High
for putting your enemies
into your clutches.And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Guiding Light - Cycle C
The Body and Blood of Christ - June 10, 2007
INTRODUCTION: Today we celebrate our faith in the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Today’s first reading takes us back about 1850 years before Christ. Abraham’s nephew Lot had been captured by some local tribes and Abraham set out to rescue him, which he did. On his return, he passed by Salem, which is Jerusalem today and he was met by Melchizedek, who was both king and high priest in that area. They didn’t believe in separation of church and state in those early days and it was not unusual for the same person to be both king and high priest. Melchizedek offered bread and wine to Abraham. This act of eating together signified the creation of a bond of enduring friendship and mutual protection. Many of the early fathers in the Church saw this gesture as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist.
St. Paul describes the institution of the Eucharist in his letter to the Corinthians. The language he uses indicates that this is a tradition that is authentic and reliable. He received it from the Lord and he is handing it on to the Corinthians as he has received it. Receiving it “from the Lord” does not necessarily mean that he received it directly, but that it is an essential part of the gospel that has its origin in the teaching and the life of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 18: 1-10
Yahweh appeared to him at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘if I find favour with you, please do not pass your servant by. Let me have a little water brought, and you can wash your feet and have a rest under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you can refresh yourselves before going further, now that you have come in your servant’s direction.’ They replied, ‘Do as you say.’
Abraham hurried to the tent and said to Sarah, ‘Quick, knead three
measures of best flour and make loaves.' Then, running to the herd, Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking curds, milk and the calf which had been prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.
‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent,’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall come back to you next year, and then your wife Sarah will have a son.’
Guiding Light - Cycle C
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 22, 2007
INTRODUCTION: One of the themes of today’s readings is hospitality. Jesus, and most likely his disciples, share the hospitality of Martha and Mary, his friends in Bethany. Our first reading is about Abraham who welcomes three strangers with a lavish banquet. The Bible said he was 100 years old, but he was still pretty energetic as we hear. He doesn’t realize it at the time that it is God whom he is entertaining. God must have enjoyed the feast, for God tells him that his lifelong desire that he and his wife, Sarah, would have a son would finally be fulfilled.
Then Yahweh said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin is so grave, that I shall go down and see whether or not their actions are at all as the outcry reaching me would suggest. Then I shall know.’
While the men left there and went to Sodom, Yahweh remained in Abraham’s presence. Abraham stepped forward and said, ‘Will you really destroy the upright with the guilty? Suppose there are fifty upright people in the city. Will you really destroy it? Will you not spare the place for the sake of the fifty upright in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to put the upright to death with the guilty, so that upright and guilty fare alike! Is the judge of the whole world not to act justly?’ Yahweh replied, ‘If I find fifty upright people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
Abraham spoke up and said, ‘It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord, I who am dust and ashes: Suppose the fifty upright were five short? Would you destroy the whole city because of five?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘I shall not destroy it if I find forty–five there.’ Abraham persisted and said, ‘Suppose there are forty to be found there?’ ‘I shall not do it,’ he replied, ‘for the sake of the forty.’
Abraham said, ‘I hope the Lord will not be angry if I go on: Suppose there are only thirty to be found there?’ ‘I shall not do it,’ he replied, ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord: Suppose there are only twenty there?’ ‘I shall not destroy it,’ he replied, ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I shall not destroy it,’ he replied, ‘for the sake of the ten.’
Guiding Light - Cycle C
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 29, 2007 - (excerpt)
INTRODUCTION: Last Sunday’s first reading told us about a visit Abraham had from three strangers. It turns out one of the three visitors was God himself. God was on his way to two cities near the Dead Sea, Sodom and Gomorrah, and he invited Abraham to go with him. On the way God took Abraham into his confidence and told him the cities were about to be destroyed because of their depravity and immorality. Notice the comfortable yet respectful familiarity that existed between God and Abraham.
HOMILY: A young minister was asked to say prayers at a burial. He was told it was a homeless person and they were being laid to rest in a little country cemetery in which no one else had yet been buried. He got lost on the way there. By the time he arrived, he saw the backhoe, there were three or four workers eating lunch and the hole was half filled, but there was no funeral director in sight. He knew he was really late and he was totally embarrassed. He apologized profusely to the workers, stepped up to the graveside and started to pray. The workers joined in with Alleluia’s and Amen’s and Praise the Lord. The young minister preached enthusiastically for quite a while from several scripture passages. He closed his prayer book and went back to his car. As he neared his car he heard one of the workers say: “I ain’t never seen anything like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years.” ...
Genesis 22, 1-2, 9-13, 15-18It happened some time later that God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ he called. ‘Here I am,’ he replied. God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, your beloved Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, where you are to offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall point out to you.’?
When they arrived at the place which God had indicated to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven. ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ he said. ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy,’ the angel said. ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your own beloved son.’ Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
The angel of Yahweh called Abraham a second time from heaven. ‘I swear by my own self, Yahweh declares, that because you have done this, because you have not refused me your own beloved son, I will shower blessings on you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All nations on earth will bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed my command.’
Window at St. Boniface
Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
2nd Sunday of Lent
March 12, 2006
INTRODUCTION – (Genesis 22, 1-2. 9a. 10-13. 15-18; Romans 8, 31b-34; Mark 9, 2-10) Our stained glass window here in the sanctuary is an illustration of the story in our first reading of Abraham ready to sacrifice his son. Recall how God had made many promises to Abraham, promises that Abraham had to wait many years to see fulfilled. Among those promises was that he would be the father of a great nation. However, it wasn’t until he and his wife Sarah were very old that his son Isaac was born. Several years after Isaac’s birth, Abraham sensed God calling on him to offer up his son as a human sacrifice. Human sacrifice was not unusual at that time. Abraham loved Isaac. Just as an aside, this is the first time the word "love" appears in the bible. Besides his love for his son, Isaac was the fulfillment of all the hopes and promises God had made with Abraham. What could Abraham have thought? Did he displease God and God was canceling his promises? How could he kill his own son? But how could he disobey this God who had never let him down? I might point out a couple of interesting facts. Mt. Moriah is believed to be in Jerusalem, the very spot where King Solomon would build the Temple some 800 years later. As you know the Temple had a history of being destroyed and rebuilt a few times. The beautiful mosque called the Dome of the Rock now stands on that spot. It was built by followers of Mohammed in 690 B.C. It’s the golden dome you often see when you look at a picture of Jerusalem. It is an issue over which the Jews and the Moslems are fighting today. The more conservative Jews want to tear it down and build a new temple in its place. The Moslems are determined not to let that happen.
HOMILY – Two mountains dominate our readings today: Mt. Moriah, the place where Abraham’s faith was tested and another mountain, which was most likely Mt. Tabor, where Jesus was transfigured. I think these two mountains symbolize the ups and downs of every life. We have those times when our faith is tested, moments when we think God is demanding too much of us, moments when it seems God is asking us to give up all the blessings he had previously given us. And we have high moments, moments when God seems so close, when his presence fills us with wonder and awe, moments of blessing that we do not want to see come to an end. Often we have no control over where God might put us at different times in our lives: whether we find ourselves on Mt. Moriah facing great trials, or we find ourselves on Mt. Tabor in a state of ecstasy. But for most of us, most of the time we’re somewhere in between, plugging along every day. Difficult times often seem to last forever but they seldom do. Abraham’s time of trial ended when God said "hold off, you don’t have to sacrifice your son. I just want to know you were willing to obey me." Sometimes that’s all God wants from us is for us to say "Thy will be done." And the joyful moments in our lives end all too quickly. The apostles wanted to stay on Mt. Tabor forever but our Lord said it was time to go back down. There was a lot of work and very hard times ahead of him.
Not mentioned is a third very important mountain. It is foreshadowed in the story of Abraham and Isaac. God did not demand the human sacrifice of Isaac, but God’s only son was to remain faithful to his mission even at the cost of his life on the hill of Calvary. Calvary also casts its shadow over the glory of Mt. Tabor. St. Mark makes an obvious connection between Jesus’ passion and death and his transfiguration on Mt. Tabor. Mark tells us specifically the transfiguration took place six days after Jesus’ first prediction of his passion and death. And Mark ends his narration of the transfiguration with Jesus telling Peter, James and John not to tell anyone of the vision until he had risen from the dead. The obvious linking of Jesus’ death and resurrection with the transfiguration tells us that while Calvary reminds us of Jesus’ suffering and his cross, it is also his hour of glory that brings us salvation, hope and peace.
The transfiguration was not only a revelation of the divinity hidden in Jesus but it was also a preview of his future glorification in the resurrection. It is also a preview of the glory God the Father wants us to share with his Son. The transfiguration is the fourth of the new mysteries of light for the rosary. As I was meditating on this mystery the other day I wondered how often the apostles experienced Jesus’ glory like this? Only once and it was only three of them. They had to simply go on faith the rest of the time, seeing only the human side of Jesus who ate and slept and grew tired and was sometimes sad or angry just like them. Those special moments when we experience God’s special closeness, when Jesus’ presence is tangible to us, when our lives are touched by glory are few and far between. Most of the time we have to simply go on faith. But it is a faith that will lead to future glory. St. Paul asks us in today’s second reading: "is it possible that he who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for the sake of us all will not grant us all things besides?"
Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 2, 2006
HOMILY – I love the Irish story of Fr. Mc Kenzie who was called out late one night to go on a sick call. On his way he had to pass the local pub and as he looked in the window he saw some of his parishioners still sitting at the bar, drinking pretty heavily. He felt it was his obligation to chastise them about being out so late. He walked in the door and called out to the first one: “Sullivan, do you want to go to heaven?” Sullivan answered “yes, Father.” So Father said “well, get off that bar stool and get over here.” And Sullivan obediently came to where Father told him. Then he called to the next one: “Kelly, do you want to go to heaven?” Kelly answered, “yes, Father.” And Father Mc Kenzie said “Well, you get over here too.” And Kelly came. Then Father said to Murphy: “Murphy, do you want to go to heaven?” “Indeed I do Father.” Father said, “Well, then get away from that bar and come over here.” Murphy said “No, I’m not going to do that!” Father said: “Murphy, don’t you want to go to heaven when you die.” Murphy said, “oh, yes, Father, when I die, but I thought you were getting ready to go right now.”
We all want to go to heaven some day, but none of us are in a hurry to get there. But indeed, some day we will die. There was a man who was a workaholic. And he paid a high price for his fanatic dedication to his job. He got to the point where his relationship with his family was suffering where he was nervous and irritable, had high blood pressure, couldn’t sleep and was in general falling apart. He went to see the doctor along with his wife. The doctor told him that he was physically exhausted and he had to get some rest or he wouldn’t survive. He prescribed six months away from work and total rest at home. The doctor then wanted to talk with the man’s wife, alone. He told her that her husband was critically ill and his recovery depended on her. She had to see that he got all the rest he could, not to argue with him, wait on him as much as possible and make life as peaceful and pleasant as she could. If she didn’t her husband was going to die. On the way home the husband asked his wife “What did the doctor have to tell you?” She answered him, “The doctor said you were going to die.”
So are we all, but hopefully not in the near future. We may make jokes about death, but we can’t take it lightly. Our eternal happiness depends on whether we are ready to meet our God when the time comes. So as unpleasant a thought as it may be, we have to always keep it in mind so we are prepared for it when it comes. God didn’t create us to live in this world forever. He created us to live with him forever in eternal life. Our readings today speak of these profound truths. Our first reading today tells us God did not make death. God formed us to be imperishable, in God’s own image and likeness, but it was though the devil that death came into this world. This is obviously a theological reflection on the first few chapters of Genesis.
Jesus, in today’s gospel, (Mk. 5, 21-43), shows too that he has power of life and death and that his mission was to bring life to us. The life he gave to the little girl was a dramatic and visible sign of what he wishes to give us in an invisible realm, for the little girl would eventually grow up and die a natural death, but the life he wishes for us is eternal. There is a quote from John’s gospel which I love where Jesus says this explicitly: “I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly (i.e. to an extent that is overflowing).” (Jn. 10, 10) We don’t know what that might be like, but we have a sense of it in Jesus’ resurrection. Heaven will be a sharing in his risen life, which is of course a sharing in God’s own life. Pain and suffering will no longer exist, which today’s gospel also tells us. That life will be characterized by peace and love and joy.
Mark is showing us in today’s gospel that the way to this life is through faith, not a dead faith which only says “I believe” but a living faith that we put into action. Notice Jesus said to the woman he healed “daughter, your faith has saved you.” And he said to the synagogue official, Jairus: “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” Notice, the people who laughed at Jesus, i.e. those without faith, were put out of the house.
Our faith leads to hope without which we are hope-less. And there is no joy without hope. Joy is built on hope. And our faith also leads to love which St. Paul is talking about today, a love that reaches out to those who are not as richly blessed as we are. Amen.
R. The Mysteries of Light
We meditate on the faith of Abraham —
How Abraham was even willing to sacrifice
his son —
We see in the mysteries of light —
God's call to us to be like Jesus —
in two mysteries we hear the
voice of the Father
"This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased"
We are to see ourselves changing —
going to the Eucharist —
putting on Christ —
See ourselves at the Mass
being united to Jesus —
so one in that Holy Sacrifice —
The Mass the Sacrifice of Calvary
sacramentally made present —
We go to the mountain of the Lord —
Grace is outpoured from the holy altar
through the hands of our beloved
priest
Fr. Joe Robinson
R. We are so blessed —
Oh God thank You —
I love you so much, Rita —
Jesus: Oh you are My love —
Come to Me all who are burdened and
I will refresh you
Fr. Edward Carter, S. J. - Our Founder
Jesus: I love you so, so much —
I love you —
Mysteries of Light
(1) Baptism of the Lord
Window from St. Boniface
Matthew 3: 13-17
Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him, with the words, ‘It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that uprightness demands.’ Then John gave in to him.
And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’
(2) Marriage at Cana
John 2: 1-10
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. "And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.’ They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—the president of the feast called the bridegroom and said, ‘Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.’"
(3) Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Window from St. Joseph Church - Cincinnati, OH
John 18: 33-37
So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others said it to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.’ Pilate said, ‘So, then you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’
(4) The Transfiguration
Mark 9: 2-10
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.
(5) The Last Supper and Institution of the Eucharist
Window form St. Boniface
Fr. Mike
Luke 9: 11-17
But the crowds got to know and they went after him. He made them welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.
It was late afternoon when the Twelve came up to him and said, 'Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.' He replied, 'Give them something to eat yourselves.' But they said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.' For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, 'Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.' They did so and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps left over were collected they filled twelve baskets.
R. Birth
Death
We only have a few years on this earth —
We must use them wisely —
The Ten Commandments
1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Matthew 5: 1-12
Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was
seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is
what he taught them:How blessed are the poor in spirit:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for uprightness:
they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised
as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
in the cause of uprightness:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and
speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this
is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
R. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety
and Fear of the Lord
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are
charity, joy, peace, patience,
benignity (kindness), goodness,
long-suffering, mildness,
faith, modesty, continency,
and chastity
Babies are gifts from God —
We are to love each other —
We are to unite as members of the Father's
family — brothers and sisters —
God the Father created all of us —
God is with us
God loves us so much
God is guiding us —
God wants us with Him forever in
heaven
We must see the vision of the Father —
never put ourselves above the
Father's will —
God sends people to us —
We must not be selfish, but open
ready to do God's work —
ready to receive the person
God sends —
Be 'other' focused
Serving God — promoting His
Kingdom —
The devil wants us closed in
focused on ourselves —
We keep on keeping on, building God's
Kingdom even in suffering —
we want God's will —
we want to serve God —
This is a journey —
If we see one's whole life we see
sufferings — many times when
people, dealing with us, were not
being as God wanted them to be —
sufferings inflected by the weakened
human nature
We are to be like Jesus and Mary —
Give our hearts to these pure and holy Hearts —
Put pictures of Jesus and Mary in our
houses as models to follow
Consecrate our hearts to Jesus and Mary —
We want to do God's will —
God allows us to suffer to help us
to die to our imperfections and
live more the resurrected life —
God may allow us to suffer for His purpose —
God is with us —
After all these years from Adam and Eve —
God gives us the Church, the Eucharist,
we are to obey God —
Jesus is to be the King and Center of our
hearts and all places on the earth —
Our answers are in doing
God's will —
I shall bless those who bless you,
and shall curse those who curse you,
and all clans on earth
will bless themselves by you.’
Genesis 12: 17-20
But Yahweh inflicted severe plagues on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, 'What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, "She is my sister," so that I took her to be my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!' And Pharaoh gave his people orders about him; they sent him on his way with his wife and all his possessions.
R.
The Pharaoh suffered a severe
plague because of Abram's
wife Sarai —
God is the ultimate mystery —
God is with us —
Response to
God's Love
by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.
Fr. Edward Carter, S. J. Our Founder
Excerpt from Response to God's Love by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.
... In reference to Christianity, God himself is the ultimate mystery. Radically, God is completely other and transcendent, hidden from man in his inner life, unless he chooses to reveal himself. Let us briefly look at this inner life of God.
The Father, in a perfect act of self-expression, in a perfect act of knowing, generates his son. The Son, the Word, is, then, the immanent expression of God's fullness, the reflection of the Father. Likewise, from all eternity, the Father and the Son bring forth the Holy Spirit in a perfect act of loving.
At the destined moment in human history, God's self-expression, the Word, immersed himself into man's world. God's inner self-expression now had also become God's outer self-expression. Consequently, the mystery of God becomes the mystery of Christ. In Christ, God tells us about himself, about his inner life, about his plan of creation and redemption. He tells us how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit desire to dwell within us in the most intimate fashion, how they wish to share with us their own life through grace. All this he has accomplished and does accomplish through Christ. St. Paul tells us: "I became a minister of this Church through the commission God gave me to preach among you his word in its fullness, that mystery hidden from ages and generations past but now revealed to his holy ones. God has willed to make known to them the glory beyond price which this mystery brings to the Gentiles—the mystery of Christ in you, your hope of glory. This is the Christ we proclaim while we admonish all men and teach them in the full measure of wisdom, hoping to make every man complete in Christ" (Col 1:25-28).
R.
Because of the plague the Pharaoh
sent Abram and Sarai away —
When we see suffering and signs
God sends us today —
Do we listen? —
Do we obey the commandments? —
Do we live by the Word? —
Are we acting like Jesus and Mary,
dying to our selfish ways to
live more the resurrected life? —
Are we thanking God for His gifts? —
the gift of life? —
the gift of health? —
the gift of each other? —
the sun so bright? —
the beautiful sky and star studded
night? —
Have we lost our focus of God as
our Creator? —
God wants peace among us as brothers —
loving —
preparing ourselves for the
beatific vision —
We are to be one family —
To share the gifts God gives us —
We are all under the same sky and
all under the same God who
created us —
We are to live here — as brothers and
sisters — in unity and love —
not competition and discord —
caved in and selfish — hating
those God called us to work with
When God blesses us and gives us His
direction —
calling Mary, Mother of God —
through election God chose
Mary, sinless
Today we can focus on us forgetting
about God
Brother hating brother —
Making rules opposed to God's rules —
Rebelling against the Creator
Inhumanity to men
Abortion is the killing of innocent
babies created by God —
Think of Sodom and Gomorrah —
Think of the flood at the time of Noah —
Think of the offenses against God
on this earth today —
Disobedience to the Commandments
Killing the babies in abortion
Fr. Joe said from Cycle C Homilies pp. 13-14
HOMILY: ... Sometimes I hear the argument from those who support abortion that we don’t know when the human soul comes into a fetus. Jesus could have been only a few days old, for the gospel tells us Mary went to Elizabeth “with haste” after the annunciation. John the Baptist, still unborn, and Elizabeth recognized Mary was carrying within herself something infinitely more than just a blob of tissue. They recognized the wonderful presence of the Son of God and they were filled with joy. ...
R. Mary's image appeared December 17, 1996 —
It was there 7 1/2 years until
someone shot off the image
head with a sling shot —
Image of Clearwater
R. We must have faith —
Study God's promises
Listen to this promise from Our Lady of Fatima
July 13, 1917
"But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world." (13)
13. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven
(Rockford: TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983). p.5.
My Way of Life
a pocket Edition of St. Thomas The Summa Simplified for
Everyone
by Walter Farrell, O.P., S.T.M. and Martin J.
Healy, S.T.D.,
pp. 243-244
THE SUPERNATURAL VIRTUES, whether theological or moral, cannot be acquired through nature or natural human action. They must be infused into man's soul by God. The infused theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, have God Himself—as He is in Himself—for their immediate object. Since this Object—God as He is in Himself—is beyond the natural powers of man, the virtues which unite man to this Object are also beyond man's powers to acquire. God Himself must give virtues to man. The infused moral virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude do not have God as He is in Himself as their immediate Object. But they are concerned with the right use of man's actions and passions in relation to the Object of the theological virtues, God in Himself. Consequently they cannot be acquired naturally by man, but must be infused by God. How God infuses these virtues will be discussed later. For the present it is sufficient to note that they must be infused by God if man is to act efficiently in the pursuit of the vision of God.
HOW DO THE VIRTUES WORK in the pursuit of happiness? Since all human action is intelligent action, it follows that every human act is directed to some goal. The perfection of any human act and the perfection of the virtue which produces the act will be measured by the goal itself or the suitability of the act to attain the goal. The virtues then will work according to the rule or measure that is proper to them.
Hebrews Chapter 11
Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that are unseen. It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged.
It is by faith that we understand that the ages were created by a word from God, so that from the invisible the visible world came to be.
It was because of his faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and for that he was acknowledged as upright when God himself made acknowledgement of his offerings. Though he is dead, he still speaks by faith.
It was because of his faith that Enoch was taken up and did not experience death: he was no more, because God took him; because before his assumption he was acknowledged to have pleased God. Now it is impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and rewards those who seek him.
It was through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something that had never been seen before, took care to build an ark to save his family. His faith was a judgement on the world, and he was able to claim the uprightness which comes from faith.
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the Promised Land as though it were not his, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. He looked forward to the well-founded city, designed and built by God.
It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise was faithful to it.
Because of this, there came from one man, and one who already had the mark of death on him, descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore which cannot be counted.
All these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth. People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of a homeland. If they had meant the country they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return to it; but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has founded the city for them.
It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his only son even though he had yet to receive what had been promised, and he had been told: Isaac is the one through whom your name will be carried on. He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead.
It was by faith that this same Isaac gave his blessing to Jacob and Esau for the still distant future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, bowed in reverence, as he leant on his staff. It was by faith that, when he was about to die, Joseph mentioned the Exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his own remains.
It was by faith that Moses, when he was born, was kept hidden by his parents for three months; because they saw that he was a fine child; they were not afraid of the royal edict. It was by faith that, when he was grown up, Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to be ill-treated in company with God's people rather than to enjoy the transitory pleasures of sin. He considered that the humiliations offered to the Anointed were something more precious than all the treasures of Egypt, because he had his eyes fixed on the reward. It was by faith that he left Egypt without fear of the king's anger; he held to his purpose like someone who could see the Invisible. It was by faith that he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood to prevent the Destroyer from touching any of their first-born sons. It was by faith they crossed the Red Sea as easily as dry land, while the Egyptians, trying to do the same, were drowned.
It was through faith that the walls of Jericho fell down when the people had marched round them for seven days. It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies and so was not killed with the unbelievers.
What more shall I say? There is not time for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, or of David, Samuel and the prophets. These were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what was upright and earned the promises. They could keep a lion's mouth shut, put out blazing fires and emerge unscathed from battle. They were weak people who were given strength to be brave in war and drive back foreign invaders. Some returned to their wives from the dead by resurrection; and others submitted to torture, refusing release so that they would rise again to a better life. Some had to bear being pilloried and flogged, or even chained up in prison. They were stoned, or sawn in half, or killed by the sword; they were homeless, and wore only the skins of sheep and goats; they were in want and hardship, and maltreated. They were too good for the world and they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and ravines. These all won acknowledgment through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection except with us.
R. There has been wars since men began —
Cain slew Abel
St. Ignatius tells us about the 2 Camps
Excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. P.60-61
136. THE FOURTH DAY
A MEDITATION ON TWO STANDARDS
The one of Christ, our supreme leader and lord,
the other of Lucifer, the deadly enemy of our
human naturePRAYER. The usual preparatory prayer.
window at a former Jesuit Seminary
137. FIRST PRELUDE. This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his.
138. SECOND PRELUDE. This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see a great plain, comprising the whole region about Jerusalem, where the sovereign Commander-in-Chief of all the good is Christ our Lord; and another plain about the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.
139. THIRD PRELUDE. This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also to ask for a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him.
FIRST PART
THE STANDARD OF SATAN
140. FIRST POINT. Imagine you see the chief of all the enemy in the vast plain about Babylon, seated on a great throne of fire and smoke, his appearance inspiring horror and terror.
141. SECOND POINT. Consider how he summons innumerable demons, and scatters them, some to one city and some to another, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no individual is overlooked.
142. THIRD POINT. Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.
The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.
SECOND PART
THE STANDARD OF CHRIST
143. In a similar way, we are to picture to ourselves the sovereign and true Commander, Christ our Lord.
144. FIRST POINT. Consider Christ our Lord, standing in a lowly place in a great plain about the region of Jerusalem, His appearance beautiful and attractive.
145. SECOND POINT. Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses so many persons, apostles, disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the whole world to spread His sacred doctrine among all men, no matter what their state or condition.
146. THIRD POINT. . . .
end of excerpt
Fr. Edward Carter, S. J. and Rita Ring
4 days before his death
From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p. 12
23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION
Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God
our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.
From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p. 1121. SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
no decision is made under the influence of any
inordinate attachment
R.
Let go of inordinate attachments —
old habits that block us doing God's
will —
old habits we were taught in
dysfunctional homes —
Live to serve our Heavenly Father
and to be more perfected like Him
When we take the wrong road —
we get to the wrong place —
How can you change what
is the wrong road to make
it right —
There is one Plan —
The Plan of God Most High —
Creator of heaven and earth
We can use our free will
to do God's will or
to reject Him —
We either go toward a life of
grace or rebellion
against God's will
R.
We see the King who disobeyed Jeremiah
and listened to the false
prophet because he wanted
not to suffer —
God tells us what to do —
suffering or not —
We are to obey Him —
It is the right way —
We must do the right thing
according to God's Plan
(1) Right reason
(2) Doing God's will in love
God makes promises, but our
faith is waning and we
listen to the voice of fear
many times —
Know the Word of God — our life
is so short here
Melchizedck, king of Salem, came
to Abram with bread and wine —
many times we do not see the big vision
of God —
Genesis 14: 22
But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, 'I swear by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth:
R.
God has a Plan for us and we can
be our own worst enemy — wanting
to punish somebody instead of enduring
the suffering and really serving God as
we are called by God —
God calls and He wants us to respond
according to God's Plan — we can get angry
and hold out on God because the devil
presses on our wounded human nature
and we give in and block the Plan
God wants for us —
We even see childbirth which is
so wonderful a gift how a child comes
into the world — the child comes in
pain — We can be very selfish and use
our children for our plan in selfishness —
God has a Plan for them and we have
no right getting in God's way for our
selfish jealousies — children are
God's creation — we are to do our
part in their upbringing as God wants
but not think we own them for ourselves —
they are God's creation — The Heavenly Father
created them for His honor and glory —
Parents are to live their lives being
under God —
Abraham was called the father of
many nations — Sarah was to be the
mother of many nations and she was
thought barren — Abraham, when
Sarah conceived Isaac, was very old.
They had to do God's will — Be patient —
Be faithful —
God made a covenant with
Abraham
Genesis Chapter 17
When Abram was ninety–nine years old Yahweh appeared to him and said, ‘I am El Shaddai. Live in my presence, be perfect, and I shall grant a covenant between myself and you, and make you very numerous.’
God spoke to him as follows, 'For my part, this is my covenant with you: you will become the father of many nations. And you are no longer to be called Abram; your name is to be Abraham, for I am making you father of many nations. I shall make you exceedingly fertile. I shall make you into nations, and your issue will be kings. And I shall maintain my covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, as a covenant in perpetuity, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And to you and to your descendants after you, I shall give the country where you are now immigrants, the entire land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity. And I shall be their God.'
God further said to Abraham, "You for your part must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you, generation after generation. This is my covenant which you must keep between myself and you, and your descendants after you: every one of your males must be circumcised. You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that will be the sign of the covenant between myself and you. As soon as he is eight days old, every one of your males, generation after generation, must be circumcised, including slaves born within the household or bought from a foreigner not of your descent. Whether born within the household or bought, they must be circumcised. My covenant must be marked in your flesh as a covenant in perpetuity. The uncircumcised male, whose foreskin has not been circumcised — that person must be cut off from his people: he has broken my covenant.'
Furthermore God said to Abraham, "As regards your wife Sarai, you must not call her Sarai, but Sarah. I shall bless her and moreover give you a son by her. I shall bless her and she will become nations: kings of peoples will issue from her." Abraham bowed to the ground, and he laughed, thinking to himself, "Is a child to be born to a man one hundred years old, and will Sarah have a child at the age of ninety?" Abraham said to God, "May Ishmael live in your presence! That will be enough!" But God replied, "Yes, your wife Sarah will bear you a son whom you must name Isaac. And I shall maintain my covenant with him, a covenant in perpetuity, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him. For Ishmael too I grant you your request. I hereby bless him and will make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I shall make him into a great nation. But my covenant I shall maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear you at this time next year." When he had finished speaking to Abraham, God went up from him.
Then Abraham took his son Ishmael, all the slaves born in his household or whom he had bought, in short all the males among the people of Abraham's household, and circumcised their foreskins that same day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when his foreskin was circumcised. Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when his foreskin was circumcised. Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the very same day, and all the men of his household, those born in the household and those bought from foreigners, were circumcised with him.
R.
Abraham had faith —
Abraham waited —
Abraham did as the Lord told him —
Sarah laughed when she was
told she would have a son —
then she denied she laughed.
Abraham was told Ishmael too
would be blessed —
Abraham talked to the Lord —
When God has created all these people
and has a plan for all of us — Why
does a person act vindictively, act jealously,
demand selfish attention at the point God is
trying to do something through another
person, an instrument He has chosen?
God's gifts given to us are so good and
we are to serve Him and our relationship
is that He is the giver of grace, of
gifts — the devil works in jealousy —
wanting attention when God is
blessing us through another because
we are envious and see this gift God
gives as a threat to us —
Our focus is for building God's
Kingdom for doing God's Plan —
for not acting in envy and jealousy —
how could we singly run the world —
there were 12 Apostles God picked —
11 were faithful — they were needed — ie
John was different than Peter —
Look at the gifts God gives us all —
If we are envious and in competition
we make ourselves small in heart
and being — soon we will die —
there is perfect love in heaven,
not jealousy or envy — there is
unity and harmony as God desires —
We see the sin of Adam and Eve —
We see the jealousy of Cain, so he
killed Abel —
The future is a gift from God —
The future is from the Plan of the Father —
The devil tries to get people to be
jealous and possessive and envious
and prideful and controlling —
God is the Creator of all of us —
God wants us to be sons of Him —
We were created in His image
and likeness —
Genesis 1: 26-27
God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild animals and all the creatures that creep along the ground.’
God created man in the image of himself,
in the image of God he created him,
male and female he created them.
R.
The devil comes in fear and says — look
at this — you should be jealous,
you should be envious —
you will be left out
When I asked God to use my hand and
write a book —
I got this message
18 years ago
October 5, 1992
October 5, 1992 - 3:30am
R. Dear Jesus, Give me Your hand to write this book for you. I am your servant. I want to be Your hand to this world. If you, Lord Jesus, would write a book, what would you say?
Jesus: My dear children,
Today I come to deliver a message to each of you. I want to tell you of each person's dignity, of their beauty and their self-worth. Each child is, oh, so uniquely precious to My Most Sacred Heart. Each child is full of the talents I have given to them. Each person is divinely created by God and given all these gifts to be happy and love one another.
The problem comes when you feel you will be left out. That you will be left by another who has trodden on you and will do it again. I see you all as My most precious children. I watch your every move and know all pain and anguish in your heart. My Heart aches, you have insecure feelings about yourself. I came to this earth I died for you. I felt cold, hungry, lonely on this earth. You need not worry that no one knows the pain and anguish in your heart. God created you with such special gifts and talents. It is important for you to raise above your wound and forgive those who hurt you.
You need only turn your will and your life over to Me and I will guide you in all your ways. I have all the Power. Many are not of My ways. The key to life is to recognize your faults, but still know you are this precious gift of My Father a gift to this world. This world is in need of your strength. Running yourself down, blaming others hurting them can cause you misery and pain. At this very moment, you are the precious creation of God!! You must operate with Me in your heart.
You need not run yourself down. I am with you every day guiding your ways, lest your foot stumble and you lose your way. You will not wander far from your path if every day you keep bringing your focus back to Me. If you dare let Me be at the helm, if you dare to really let Me run your life, I will do with you such wonders that you yourself would be amazed. But you will know with such ease when you did these things that you did not do them alone. You will know My power, moving the mountain, My power chipping at the stone, My power working on your hardest problem and you will be set free.
Oh yes, you will be set free and know a serenity that only comes from letting go and letting Me run your life. To you, My child, I have given all that is good. I made you My holy soldier, My warrior in a world of pain and hatred. You are the light that shines in the darkness, you are the coat to a cold child, you are the smile that warms a troubled and lonely heart. You are the comfort for everyone you meet, because My most precious Heart powers you, smiles through you, understands and loves through you.
Love your fellows for Me. There are so many troubled hearts that need to know My love. I can love through you if you let Me, I can be their friend through you if you let Me. I am He who comforts you and you are he who comforts them. My power is endless, it never runs out, there is not a power failure EVER. In your darkest hour, My light shines in the darkness and I say to you, "Oh blessed of My Father, look at yourself with awe, you are My creation, you are indeed so precious to Me, you are My light to this world, you are My hands and My feet and most of all My Heart."
Oh, you are My loving Heart, to those who are bowed down, to those who are lost in the darkness, you carry My smile and wear My armor in a world that is trying to tear one another down with hate and ugliness. There is gentleness, there is love, there is hope in you, if you open yourself up to Me. Be My knight to the world, wear My armor. I am your God and I will protect you from the darkness. Plug into My power, be not afraid, I go before you always and you can rest in My arms when you feel weary. You can put your head in My lap and weep, you will know, I am truly with you and you are My light to this world. I created you so special - to cast out fear in the darkness, to clothe the naked, to give hope to the oppressed, to be as I live in you and love through you and you are My smile and I touch My hurting ones through your love.
You are he who loves this world. You must stay plugged into My power-source. This world is hungry for My love. It needs My love, I give to them through you. I am your God and I made you as a gift to the world. You are filled.
Focus on Me and your life will be abundant and whole, joy in suffering, freedom — but you can take the knocks because you will know you do not go it alone, but with Me. I love you My precious child.
R.
The devil wants to send people God
called away — so we can be
possessive and jealous and envious —
who can last — if no one is
left
The devil acts in temptation —
like he tempted Eve in the garden
Why do you act —
to do God's will
Do you act out of jealousy,
possessiveness, envy, pride,
wanting to control —
wanting a "that a way boy"?
God wants unity amongst the brothers
He created —
the devil wants division —
the devil wants isolation —
the devil wants to use others
as his instruments to force
the devil's rule —
When jealousy, anger, envy rule
the devil is dictating the Plan —
Those forcing their jealousy, anger
envy, get more and more distorted
vision as they give into these
vices and block God's Plan —
This distance in their heart from
God makes them more angry
and miserable —
So then they can act vengefully
to cause the failure of
God's Plan for a happy united
Family —
Jesus and St. Margaret Mary
R.
Jesus gave the following Promises
to Margaret Mary
Promises of Our Lord to those devoted to His Sacred Heart:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their refuge during life and above all in death.
5. I will bestow a large blessing on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the
first Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving
their sacraments; My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
R.
We don't believe as we should —
like Abraham in the Plan
of God and how He wants
to use us to be His instruments
of faith in this world —
God tests us, many times, to help
strengthen us like He did
to Abraham in telling him
to sacrifice his son Isaac —
Genesis 22: 1-19
When Abraham was preparing
Isaac for his upcoming
mission — God tested him and
he did, even then, as
God wanted —
Jesus did the will of His Heavenly Father.
February 23, 1997
SacrificeR. When I go to Mass I offer a sacrifice. God wants our all. He wants to be first in our life. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.
Gen. 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18:
It happened some time later that God put Abraham to the test. "Abraham, Abraham!" he called. "Here I am," he replied. God said, "Take your son, your only son, your beloved Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, where you are to offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall point out to you.
When they arrived at the place which God had indicated to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven. "Abraham, Abraham!" he said. "Here I am," he replied. Do not raise your hand against the boy," the angel said. "Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your own beloved son." Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
The angel of Yahweh called Abraham a second time from heaven. "I swear by my own self, Yahweh declares, that because you have done this, because you have not refused me your own beloved son, I will shower blessings on you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All nations on earth will bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed my command.
The Father gave His Son for us. This is how great the Father's love is for us.
When we go to the altar many times we are suffering. We want something really bad, but we know we love God the most. What the Father asks for us is to offer that which we are so attached to as a sacrifice, united to the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. If we offer this sacrifice to Him, the Father will pour out blessings that will be divine blessings, greater than anything we could have here on earth.
The Mass is the perfect sacrifice we offer to the Father, in which God pours out His blessings and we are one with Him and with all others in a profound expression of love. God shares His divine love with us and we partake in an intense way in His divine loving capacity. In order to become one in Him and to feel His love like this, we must surrender ourselves and be open.
He told Abraham to offer his son. God gave him his son back. He wanted Abraham to love God above all things and people.
Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father. This is the most pleasing sacrifice to the Father. If He gave His Son Who died for love of us, will He deny us when we unite our petitions with Jesus and offer these at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
He took them to the highest mountain and He was transfigured before them in the greatest light.
Mark 9:2-10:
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, "Rabbi," he said, "it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him." Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what 'rising from the dead' could mean.
We go to the altar of sacrifice. The mountain to come, in which so many graces will flow, is the altar of sacrifice where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered through the hands of consecrated priests.
We hear the Father say, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him." He is speaking to us. He is the Word. He is speaking in these messages. He is unveiling the Scriptures and speaking to us in plain talk. This is a great gift He is giving to us.
We are transformed in the Mass. We unite with the greatest sacrifice offered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We have the most perfect sacrifice to offer to the Father when we offer this sacrifice. He gives us great blessings. We die to ourselves, we become white.
We must unite all of our sacrifices to this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being said all over the world. This is the greatest way to magnify all of our offerings - by uniting everything we do as an offering, a sacrifice to the Father in union with His Son.
end of excerpt
R.
Can you even imagine Abraham's
faithfulness to God to make
the journey and willing to sacrifice
his son
God the Father gave His only begotten
Son for our sins — how can
we offend God, our Creator,
Jesus who died for us and the
Holy Spirit wants us to know
God's love —
Oh God, I am so sorry — give us
the strength to obey You in a
world that is sinning — so we
are praying for this devotion to
the Sacred Heart as King and Center
of our hearts and the Immaculate
Heart as our heavenly Mother —
God is faithful and God is just —
God tests us and He gives us strength
to endure the tests —
to remain holy —
to obey God
to proceed in His Plan in love —
to live a virtuous life —
to be saturated more and more with
His grace
From the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 3 By Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. p. 44
The Father's Will for Us - Our Source of Peace
Pope John Paul II instructs us: "The Church, as a reconciled and reconciling community, cannot forget that at the source of her gift and mission of reconciliation is the initiative, full of compassionate love and mercy, of that God who is love (see 1 John 4:8) and who out of love created human beings (see Wisdom 11:23-26; Genesis 1:27: Psalms 8:4-8)…He created them so that they might live in friendship with Him and in communion with one another.
"God is faithful to His eternal plan even when man, under the impulse of the evil one (see Wisdom 2:24) and carried away by his own pride, abuses the freedom given to him in order to love and generously seek what is good, and (instead) refuses to obey his Lord and Father. God is faithful even when man, instead of responding with love to God’s love, opposes Him and treats Him like a rival, deluding himself and relying on his own power, with the resulting break of relationship with the One who created him. In spite of this transgression on man’s part, God remains faithful in love.
"It is certainly true that the story of the Garden of Eden makes us think about the tragic consequences of rejecting the Father, which becomes evident in man’s inner disorder and in the breakdown of harmony between man and woman, brother and brother (see Genesis 3:12 ff; 4:1-16). Also significant is the Gospel parable of the two brothers (the parable of the ‘prodigal son’; see Luke 15:11-32) who, in different ways, distance themselves from their father and cause a rift between them. Refusal of God’s fatherly love and of His loving gifts is always at the root of humanity’s divisions.
"But we know that God…like the father in the parable (of the prodigal son), does not close His heart to any of His children. He waits for them, looks for them, goes to meet them at the place where the refusal of communion imprisons them in isolation and division. He calls them to gather about His table in the joy of the feast of forgiveness and reconciliation.
"This initiative on God’s part is made concrete and manifest in the redemptive act of Christ, which radiates through the world by means of the ministry of the Church." 13
___________
13. Pope John Paul II, as in Celebrate 2000!, Servant Publications, pp. 140-141.
Given November 2, 2010 - All Souls Day
R.
We see the rivalry between
Jacob and Esau
Their mother's name was Rebekah
At first Rebekah could not conceive —
then she prayed and
she had twins Esau and Jacob —
When they were older, Isaac,
Jacob's father was close to death
Jacob tricked his father to get
his blessing —
The mother of Jacob liked Jacob
better than Esau —
She wanted Jacob to trick the
father to get the blessing —
After Jacob tricked the father
Esau was so mad
It was interesting to me, how
Rebekah helped Jacob trick his
father Isaac and
that Rebekah's brother tricked Jacob
with the daughter Leah —
It is further interesting that Leah's
sons were 6 of Joseph's brothers
who sold him to slavery —
Jacob lied to his father —
he brought him the soup —
he gave him his hairy arm —
which was fake hair —
Jacob said he was Esau
Jacob got the blessing of his
father Isaac —
Isaac blessed Jacob —
Esau then came for the blessing
and Isaac said I
blessed you already —
Esau told his father he blessed
Jacob and Isaac
said Jacob must remain
blessed —
Jacob and Esau fought
Jacob left or Esau would kill
Jacob
Isaac sent Jacob to Laban, Rebekah's
brother to find a wife
Jacob had a dream "Jacob's ladder"
Jacob went to Laban —
Jacob fell in love with Rachel —
Jacob worked hard for 7 years
for her hand in marriage —
Laban - tricked Jacob and substituted
Leah the eldest daughter and
made it dark for the wedding
night —
Jacob was told by Laban he must
work another 7 years for
Rachel and he could have them both
as his wives —
Leah's first child was Reuben,
then - Simeon, Levi, Judah
Rachel did not conceive a
child and she was envious
of her sister, Leah,
So she asked Jacob to lie with
her maidservant Bilhah
Jacob said to Rachel that God didn't
give her children —
but he did as Rachel asked —
now Bilhah gave Jacob Dan
and Naphtali, then
Leah saw she was not bearing
children so she gave
Jacob her maidservant — Zilpah
Jacob had a son by Zilpah —
his name was Gad — then Zilpah
had a second son Asher,
Then Leah conceived a 5th son
Issachar
And a 6th son — Zebulun
And finally a daughter Dinah —
Then Rachel conceived Joseph and
finally Benjamin and Rachel
died
Jacob loved Rachel the most —
The Israelites in Egypt
Exodus 1: 1-13
These are the names of the Israelites who went with Jacob to Egypt, each of them went with his family: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. In all, the descendants of Jacob numbered seventy persons. Joseph was in Egypt already. Then Joseph died, and his brothers, and all that generation. But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they became so numerous and powerful that eventually the whole land was full of them.
Then there came to power in Egypt a new king who had never heard of Joseph. 'Look,' he said to his people, 'the Israelites are now more numerous and stronger than we are. We must take precautions to stop them from increasing any further, or if war should break out, they might join the ranks of our enemies. They might take arms against us and then escape from the country.' Accordingly they put taskmasters over the Israelites to wear them down by forced labour. In this way they built the store-cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. But the harder their lives were made, the more they increased and spread, until people came to fear the Israelites. So the Egyptians gave them no mercy in the demands they made, making their lives miserable with hard labour: with digging clay, making bricks, doing various kinds of field-work-all sorts of labour that they imposed on them without mercy.
R.
When God called the special people
in the Old Testament —
like Jacob, they was blessed —
And Jacob was left alone.
Then someone wrestled with him until daybreak who, seeing that he could not master him, struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob's hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. He said, "Let me go, for day is breaking." Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The other said, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he replied. He said, "No longer are you to be called Jacob, but Israel since you have shown your strength against God and men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked, "Please tell me your name." He replied, "Why do you ask my name?" With that, he blessed him there.
Jacob named the place Peniel, "Because I have seen God face to face," he said, "and have survived." The sun rose as he passed Peniel, limping from his hip. That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh sinew which is at the hip socket: because he had struck Jacob at the hip socket on the thigh sinew.
R. Jacob and Esau made up
Jacob was a God-fearing man
Jacob obeyed God
Jacob was a man of peace
Jacob was betrayed by his sons
in the case how they treated Joseph and
with the rape of Dinah
Genesis 34: 30-31
Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have done me an ill turn by bringing me into bad odour with the people of the region, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I have few men, whereas they will unite against me to defeat me and destroy me and my family.' They retorted, 'Should our sister be treated like a whore?'
R. Jacob was called Israel
Genesis 35: 9-15
God again appeared to Jacob on his return from Paddan-Aram, and blessed him. God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but from now on you will be called not Jacob but Israel.' Thus he came by the name Israel. God said to him, 'I am El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, will descend from you, and kings will issue from your loins. The country which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I now give to you; and this country I shall give to your descendants after you.' Then God went up from him. Jacob raised a monument at the spot where he had spoken to him, a standing-stone, on which he made a libation and poured oil. Jacob named the place Bethel where God had spoken to him.
R.
It was great distress
after the rape of
Dinah after the battle —
They had to leave quickly from that
place
Rachel went into labor on the
road to Ephrath
Jacob had his second son
from Rachel - but
she was not good and died —
She was at the point of death
she said the baby was
to be called Ben-Oni —
Jacob said Benjamin —
Reuben further disappointed
Jacob by lying with
Bilhah, his
father's concubine —
Isaac lived 180 years
Jeremiah
Call of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
‘Before I formed you in the womb
I knew you;
before you came to birth
I consecrated you;
I appointed you as prophet to the nations.’I then said, ‘Ah, ah, ah, Lord Yahweh;
you see, I do not know how to speak: I am only a child!’But Yahweh replied,
‘Do not say, "I am only a child,"
for you must go to all to whom I send you
and say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of confronting them,
for I am with you to rescue you,
Yahweh declares.’Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth,
and Yahweh said to me:‘There! I have put my words
into your mouth.
Look, today I have set you
over the nations and kingdoms,
to uproot and to knock down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’
Jeremiah 17: 5-8
Yahweh says this,
Accursed be anyone
who trusts in human beings,
who relies on human strength
and whose heart turns from Yahweh.
Such a person is like scrub
in the wastelands:
when good comes, it does not affect him
since he lives in the parched places
of the desert,
uninhabited, salt land.
‘Blessed is anyone who trusts in Yahweh,
with Yahweh to rely on.
Such a person is like a tree by the waterside
that thrusts its roots to the stream:
when the heat comes it has nothing to fear,
its foliage stays green;
untroubled in a year of drought,
it never stops bearing fruit.
Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
6th Sunday of Ordinary Time - February 11, 2007
INTRODUCTION: Life is full of options for people in the world today, but the Bible tells us that all our options ultimately will be reduced to two. We either make God the center of our lives or we don’t. Choosing to make God the center of our lives will lead to true happiness, making any other choice may satisfy us temporarily, but it will in the end leave us disappointed and unhappy. This was crystal clear to Jeremiah the prophet who lived at the time of the Babylonian exile. His way of expressing this truth is crystal clear too.
\
Jeremiah 20: 7-9
You have seduced me, Yahweh,
and I have let myself be seduced;
you have overpowered me:
you were the stronger.
I am a laughing-stock all day long,
they all make fun of me.
For whenever I speak, I have to howl
and proclaim, ‘Violence and ruin!’
For me , Yahweh’s word has been the cause
of insult and derision all day long.
I would say to myself,
‘I will not think about him,
I will not speak in his name any more,’
but then there seemed to be a fire
burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones.
The effort to restrain it wearied me,
I could not do it.
Guiding Light - Cycle A
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 28, 2005
: (Jeremiah 20, 7-9) Our first reading goes back about 600 B.C. The author of our passage is the prophet Jeremiah. Apparently he thought that people would be grateful to him for speaking God’s word to them. But his job of telling them to change their ways and get right with God only made them hate him. The people ridiculed him, threw him in jail and even tried to kill him. We hear him complaining to God “You duped me! You tricked me, God!” I’m sure it wasn’t the first time God heard the complaint that life is not fair. Jesus’ faithfulness to his mission would bring him suffering too, but Jesus was well aware of what was going to happen to him as we hear him warn his disciples in today’s gospel. In last Sunday’s gospel Jesus praised Peter for acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus even promised Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. But Peter wasn’t ready for all this talk about suffering and when Peter tried to talk Jesus out of the idea Jesus called him Satan. That’s because Peter was trying to tempt Jesus away from being faithful to his calling.INTRODUCTION
Jeremiah 20: 10-13
I heard so many disparaging me,
‘Terror on every side!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’
All those who were on good terms with me
watched for my downfall,
‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error.
Then we shall get the better of him
and take our revenge!’
But Yahweh is at my side
like a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, vanquished,
confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace
will be theirs.
Yahweh Sabaoth,
you who test the upright,
observer of motives and thoughts,
I shall see your vengeance on them,
for I have revealed my cause to you.
Sing to Yahweh,
praise Yahweh,
for he has delivered the soul of one in need
from the clutches of evil doers.
Guiding Light - Cycle A
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 22, 2008
INTRODUCTION: The prophet, Jeremiah lived in Israel about 600 years before Christ. The Babylonian destruction of Israel was immanent. The Babylonians came from modern day Iraq. Their capital, Babylon, was located just 100 miles south of Baghdad. Jeremiah was warning God’s people that they could avoid the destruction that was on its way if they started living according to God’s laws (most of which were being flagrantly ignored or violated. The people didn’t like the message, so they decided to kill Jeremiah. His words in today’s first reading reflect the pain and misery he experienced for being faithful to his mission. We should not be shocked when we hear him pray that God take vengeance on his persecutors. After all, he was human and not as perfect as Jesus who was able to pray for those who crucified him.
Our first reading leads into the gospel. As we heard last Sunday, Jesus had just chosen his twelve apostles. In today’s gospel he prepares to send them out as missionaries. He is warning them their message will not always be well received, they may even suffer and die for it, but they must preach with courage and not be afraid of what might happen to them if they meet rejection
Jeremiah 23: 1-6
‘Disaster for the shepherds who lose and scatter the sheep of my pasture, Yahweh declares. This, therefore, is what Yahweh, God of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd my people, “You have scattered my flock, you have driven them away and have not taken care of them. Right, I shall take care of you for your misdeeds, Yahweh declares! But the remnant of my flock I myself shall gather from all the countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; they will be fruitful and increase in numbers. For them I shall raise up shepherds to shepherd them and pasture them. No fear, no terror for them any more; not one shall be lost, Yahweh declares!
Look, the days are coming,
Yahweh declares,
when I shall raise an upright Branch
for David;
he will reign as king and be wise,
doing what is just and upright
in the country.
In his days Judah will triumph
and Israel live in safety.
And this is the name he will be called,
‘Yahweh–is–our–Saving–Justice.’ ”
Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
INTRODUCTION – (Jeremiah, 23, 1-6; Ephesians, 2, 13-18; Mk. 6, 30-34) (I used the following as introduction to the penitential rite): In the Scriptures, those who were leaders of God’s people: kings and priests, teachers and other spiritual leaders were often compared to shepherds. Frequently these leaders were more interested in serving themselves than they were in providing good leadership for God’s people. Jeremiah, today’s first reading, blames the kings of Judah for the destruction of the nation under the Babylonians. In today’s gospel our Lord views the people of his day as sheep without a shepherd and has compassion on them. He is a good shepherd. He desires to lead his followers to glory and eternal happiness. The way to follow him is through faith and love. For the times we have failed, we ask his forgiveness and his help to do better.
Jeremiah 31: 1-9
When that time comes, Yahweh declares, I shall be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.
Yahweh says this:
They have found pardon in the desert,
those who have survived the sword.
Israel is marching to his rest.
Yahweh has appeared to me from afar;
I have loved you with an everlasting love
and so I still maintain
my faithful love for you.
I shall build you once more,
yes, you will be rebuilt,
Virgin of Israel!
Once more in your best attire,
and with your tambourines,
you will go out dancing gaily.
Once more you will plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria
(those who plant will themselves
enjoy the fruit).
Yes, a day will come
when the watchmen shout
on the mountains of Ephraim,
‘Up! Let us go up to Zion,
to Yahweh our God!’For Yahweh says this:
Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout,
‘Yahweh has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel!’Watch, I shall bring them back
from the land of the north
and gather them in
from the far ends of the earth.
With them, the blind and the lame,
women with child, women in labour,
all together: a mighty throng
will return here!
In tears they will return,
in prayer I shall lead them.
I shall guide them to streams of water,
by a smooth path
where they will not stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my first–born son.
Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 29, 2006
INTRODUCTION: (Jeremiah 31, 7-9; Hebrews 5, 1-6; Mark 10, 46-52) The Jews have had numerous periods of great suffering throughout history. One of those difficult periods was during the Babylonian exile. The prophet who speaks to us in today’s first reading, Jeremiah, lived through it all. Before the exile he had the unpopular task of telling God's people what hey needed to do in order to avoid disaster – unpopular because he had to tell them they had to start obeying God's laws. Instead of heeding his counsel the people tried to kill Jeremiah. When the Babylonians descended upon Judah, they took many people captive as slaves to Babylon. Jeremiah could have said “I told you so.” But he didn’t. Instead he offered God's people hope. We hear him in today’s first reading telling a conquered people: “shout for joy for Jacob” for God would bring his people back home. Even the blind and the lame would not be left behind. The passage prepares us for the gospel where Jesus heals a blind man.
Jeremiah 33: 14-16
“Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall fulfil the promise of happiness I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah:
In those days and at that time,
I shall make an upright Branch
grow for David,
who will do what is just and upright
in the country.
In those days Judah will triumph
and Israel live in safety.
And this is the name the city will be called:
Yahweh–is–our–Saving–Justice.”
Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
1st Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2006
INTRODUCTION: The prophet, Jeremiah, lived during one of the most devastating times in the history of Israel. He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians. He saw many of his fellow citizens enslaved and taken into exile. Yet his words reflect hope and not despair. His hope is based not on human capabilities but on God's faithfulness to God’s promises. Jeremiah recalls God’s promise to his people made over 400 years earlier, during the time of King David, that God would bring to the throne a successor to the King who would bring peace and security to Jerusalem. We still wait for peace and security not only in Jerusalem but all over the world, but the promised one, a descendant of the House of David has begun his reign. The gospel tells us one day he will come in great glory to establish the kingdom of God forever.
Jeremiah 38: 4-6
The chief men then said to the king, 'You must have this man put to death: he is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too, by talking like this. This man is seeking not the welfare of the people but their ruin.' King Zedekiah answered, 'He is in your hands as you know, for the king is powerless to oppose you.' So they took Jeremiah and put him into the storage-well of the king's son Malchiah in the Court of the Guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the storage-well, only mud, and into the mud Jeremiah sank.
Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
INTRODUCTION: Unfortunately suffering and turmoil have been part of everyday life in the Middle East for a long time. Our first reading takes us back 600 years before Christ when the land we now know as Iraq had the name Babylon. The Babylonians were in power at that time in history and the king and his army’s ambitions were to conquer all the nations around them. The events in our first reading occurred at a time when the Babylonians were trying to take Jerusalem. Jeremiah, God’s prophet, told the Jews it was useless for them to fight or to try to defend themselves; they should just go ahead and surrender or Jerusalem would be destroyed. Such talk was viewed as unpatriotic and Jeremiah was considered a traitor. Many of the Jewish leaders decided to kill Jeremiah and they persuaded their king, Zedekiah, to give in to their wishes. He allowed Jeremiah to be thrown into a cistern to die. Later, Ebed-Melech, a Cushite (which means an Ethiopian), one of Jeremiah’s friends, persuaded the king to change his mind.
Baruch 5: 1-9
Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow
and distress,
put on the beauty of God’s glory
for evermore,
wrap the cloak of God’s saving justice
around you,
put the diadem of the Eternal One’s glory
on your head,
for God means to show your splendour
to every nation under heaven,
and the name God gives you
for evermore will be,
‘Peace–through–Justice,
and Glory–through–Devotion’.
Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights
and turn your eyes to the east:
see your children reassembled
from west and east
at the Holy One’s command,
rejoicing because God has remembered.
Though they left you on foot
driven by enemies,
now God brings them back to you,
carried gloriously, like a royal throne.
For God has decreed the flattening
of each high mountain,
of the everlasting hills,
the filling of the valleys
to make the ground level
so that Israel can walk safely
in God’s glory.
And the forests and every fragrant tree
will provide shade
for Israel, at God’s command;
for God will guide Israel in joy
by the light of his glory,
with the mercy and saving justice
which come from him.
Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
2nd Sunday of Advent - December 10, 2006
INTRODUCTION: In today’s first reading, we hear from Baruch, the secretary of Jeremiah the prophet and apparently a prophet himself. He lived during the Babylonian exile over 500 years before Christ. When the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, they destroyed everything and took most of its citizens to Babylon as captives. The prophet Baruch addresses Jerusalem and tells the city to rejoice, God will bring back the captives and Jerusalem will prosper again.
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 19, 2009
HOMILY: There was a man who worked in a museum whose job it was to explain the different exhibits. On one occasion he pointed to the bones of a dinosaur saying the bones were 100 million and 9 years old. Someone asked how they could date those bones so accurately. He said “well, when I started working here, I was told these bones were 100 million years old and I’ve worked here for nine years.”
Today I want to give everyone a little history lesson. I’m not going back to the dinosaurs, but I am going back pretty far – to King David, 1000 years before Christ. When I was in school, I hated history. It wasn’t until we studied the history of the Old Testament in the seminary that I began to appreciate it. I cannot cram 1000 years of history into a couple of minutes. I just want to touch on the parts of Jewish history that are mentioned in today’s reading. If you want to learn more, read everything in the Old Testament, but be sure you have a commentary to help you. Otherwise, you’ll give up in despair because you won’t know what it’s all about - especially the prophets and the historical books.
When David was king 1000 years before Christ, David wanted to build a house for God, since there was no Temple for God at that time. God did not give David permission to do so, however God promised David through the prophet Nathan that he would bless him and build David a house in the sense that David’s kingdom would continue forever and one of his descendants would always rule. This blessing lasted through the reign of David’s son, Solomon; but we humans somehow have the ability to sabotage God’s blessings. Solomon turned to pagan gods and over-extended the country financially by elaborate building projects and exorbitant taxes, so when Solomon died there was a rebellion and most of Israel broke away from Solomon’s successor, David’s grandson, Rehoboam. Rehoboam continued to rule over the southern part of Israel, the area we know as Judaea . For 400 years (and this is amazing) the kings of Judaea were descendants of King David. The northern kingdom that rebelled against David’s successors suffered under a succession of kings and rebellions. In less than 300 years the northern kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians, people from northern Iraq. About 100 years after that, the Babylonians from southern Iraq conquered the Assyrians and took control of the entire Middle East. The conquest of the Babylonians brings us up to Jeremiah whom we heard in today’s first reading. At the time of Jeremiah, here was the situation: the northern kingdom no longer existed. The southern kingdom, Judaea, was still being ruled by David’s descendants but they were not loyal to God or to God’s laws. Jeremiah spoke to these kings as they came into power, the last four being: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoikin and Zedekiah. Zedikiah, the last reigning king, died in disgrace. After the Babylonians captured him, his sons were slaughtered before his eyes, he was then blinded and led off to Babylon in chains where he presumably died. You can read how Jeremiah spoke with them in great detail in the book of Jeremiah. He told them exactly what they needed to do to survive the invading forces of Babylon. His messages were ignored. He blames them and their leadership for the destruction that came upon God’s people. As we heard in today’s first reading, God speaks through Jeremiah: “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture.” God said he would take over shepherding his people; he would bring them back from exile; he would appoint leaders over them who would serve them well and lead them to peace and security. It took 600 years before God thought the world was ready for this king who would reign and govern wisely, who would do what is just and right in the land.
But then he came, through the announcement of an angel to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel said to her “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
In last week’s gospel, Jesus sent his apostles out to heal and cast out demons and to call people to repentance. In today’s gospel we are told of their return, excited over their experience and tired. Jesus wanted to some time off, but he couldn’t. The mission of Jesus and his apostles apparently was so successful that a great crowd caught up with them before they had chance to catch their breath. Mark describes Jesus taking compassion on them (his heart was moved with deep sympathy for them would probably be a better translation). He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, - people without leadership, and he began to teach them.
One of the important messages in today’s readings is that in love our Lord leads us, by teaching us and appointing others to teach us. But we need to listen, and we need to keep on listening. We’ll never be finished listening and learning as long as our world suffers from injustice, poverty, hunger, discrimination, war, hatred and killing of innocent people. Christ would be put to death before he would stop teaching. It is to our own great loss when we stop listening. That’s one of the reasons we are here each weekend, to listen and to learn. We call ourselves disciples. The word disciple means learner. When we’ve quit learning, we’ve quit being a disciple.
Jeremiah 52: 12-14
In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month — it was in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon — Nebuzaradan commander of the guard, a member of the king of Babylon's staff, entered Jerusalem. He burnt down the Temple of Yahweh, the royal palace and all the houses in Jerusalem. The Chaldaean troops who accompanied the commander of the guard demolished all the walls surrounding Jerusalem.
R.
I asked God if He would write
a book would He use my
hand
He gave me the following
message
October 5, 1992
October 5, 1992 - 3:30am
R. Dear Jesus, Give me Your hand to write this book for you. I am your servant. I want to be Your hand to this world. If you, Lord Jesus, would write a book, what would you say?
Jesus: My dear children,
Today I come to deliver a message to each of you. I want to tell you of each person's dignity, of their beauty and their self-worth. Each child is, oh, so uniquely precious to My Most Sacred Heart. Each child is full of the talents I have given to them. Each person is divinely created by God and given all these gifts to be happy and love one another.
The problem comes when you feel you will be left out. That you will be left by another who has trodden on you and will do it again. I see you all as My most precious children. I watch your every move and know all pain and anguish in your heart. My Heart aches, you have insecure feelings about yourself. I came to this earth I died for you. I felt cold, hungry, lonely on this earth. You need not worry that no one knows the pain and anguish in your heart. God created you with such special gifts and talents. It is important for you to raise above your wound and forgive those who hurt you.
You need only turn your will and your life over to Me and I will guide you in all your ways. I have all the Power. Many are not of My ways. The key to life is to recognize your faults, but still know you are this precious gift of My Father a gift to this world. This world is in need of your strength. Running yourself down, blaming others hurting them can cause you misery and pain. At this very moment, you are the precious creation of God!! You must operate with Me in your heart.
You need not run yourself down. I am with you every day guiding your ways, lest your foot stumble and you lose your way. You will not wander far from your path if every day you keep bringing your focus back to Me. If you dare let Me be at the helm, if you dare to really let Me run your life, I will do with you such wonders that you yourself would be amazed. But you will know with such ease when you did these things that you did not do them alone. You will know My power, moving the mountain, My power chipping at the stone, My power working on your hardest problem and you will be set free.
Oh yes, you will be set free and know a serenity that only comes from letting go and letting Me run your life. To you, My child, I have given all that is good. I made you My holy soldier, My warrior in a world of pain and hatred. You are the light that shines in the darkness, you are the coat to a cold child, you are the smile that warms a troubled and lonely heart. You are the comfort for everyone you meet, because My most precious Heart powers you, smiles through you, understands and loves through you.
Love your fellows for Me. There are so many troubled hearts that need to know My love. I can love through you if you let Me, I can be their friend through you if you let Me. I am He who comforts you and you are he who comforts them. My power is endless, it never runs out, there is not a power failure EVER. In your darkest hour, My light shines in the darkness and I say to you, "Oh blessed of My Father, look at yourself with awe, you are My creation, you are indeed so precious to Me, you are My light to this world, you are My hands and My feet and most of all My Heart."
Oh, you are My loving Heart, to those who are bowed down, to those who are lost in the darkness, you carry My smile and wear My armor in a world that is trying to tear one another down with hate and ugliness. There is gentleness, there is love, there is hope in you, if you open yourself up to Me. Be My knight to the world, wear My armor. I am your God and I will protect you from the darkness. Plug into My power, be not afraid, I go before you always and you can rest in My arms when you feel weary. You can put your head in My lap and weep, you will know, I am truly with you and you are My light to this world. I created you so special - to cast out fear in the darkness, to clothe the naked, to give hope to the oppressed, to be as I live in you and love through you and you are My smile and I touch My hurting ones through your love.
You are he who loves this world. You must stay plugged into My power-source. This world is hungry for My love. It needs My love, I give to them through you. I am your God and I made you as a gift to the world. You are filled.
Focus on Me and your life will be abundant and whole, joy in suffering, freedom — but you can take the knocks because you will know you do not go it alone, but with Me. I love you My precious child.
Order your Christmas presents that last!
Please remember us when buying
your
Christmas gifts.
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
$10.00 each plus shipping
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$40 Limpias 8"
$25 Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass 28"
$500 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass 24"
$500 Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass
24"
$500 Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass
24"
$500 Infant of Prague w/glass
24"
$500 Our Lady of Grace w/glass
24"
$500 Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass
24"
$500 Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass 24"
$500 Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass 24"
$500 Sorrowful Mother w/glass
24"
$500 Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass 18"
$300 Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass 18"
$300 Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass 18"
$300 Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass 18"
$300 Our Lady of Grace w/glass 18"
$300 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass
18" $300 Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass 12"
$200 Fatima w/glass
11"
$150 Fatima w/glass
18"
$250 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 12"
$160 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 15" $200 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 18" $250 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 27"
$450
Call for Shipping Price (1-888-211-3041)
Name
Sub-Total Address
IN Tax (7%) City
Shipping State Zip
Donation Telephone
Order Total
Call Doris
1-888-211-3041
or
1-727-725-9312
Immaculate Heart and Sacred Heart Pictures Available
with & without frames - different sizes available
Call Doris
1-888-211-3041
or
1-727-725-9312
Statues,
Crucifixes, and Religious Artwork 
