Tag: eternal life

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:22-27)

Jesus said to Peter: “But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

In today’s Gospel, Matthew recounts Jesus’ prediction of his own death and resurrection. Following that, Jesus also provides instruction regarding the payment of the temple tax. Jesus asks Peter whether the kings of the earth collect taxes from their own sons or from foreigners. “From foreigners,” Peter says. Jesus then tells him that the sons are free from paying the tax but to avoid giving offense, they will pay it. He instructs Peter to go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. In the fish’s mouth, Peter finds a coin to pay the temple tax for both Jesus and himself. The reading for today shows that Jesus is aware of the mission he must fulfill and also demonstrates his humility in paying the temple tax to avoid unnecessary conflict.

God, help me understand today’s readings in light of my own life. Let me consider the words of Moses to the people of Israel: “What does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good?” At the Auschwitz concentration camp, Saint Maximilian Kolbe offered his own life in place of a fellow prisoner, a husband and father, so that the man could live. How far am I willing to love and serve you, Lord? Give me love and understanding to serve you, God, and the courage to follow you whatever the cost.

From the Gospel acclamation: “God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Saint Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:22-33)

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

It is the fourth watch of the night, a dark hour. In the boat alone, the disciples have left Jesus to pray on the mountain after he had fed the five thousand. Then, in the midst of a storm that tosses about their boat, the disciples see a figure approach them on the water. They are terrified. Elijah, who took shelter in a cave also experienced the presence of God in a storm, in a landslide, in an earthquake, and in fire. But it was in none of these that the LORD was present. After the storms passed, Elijah heard a tiny whispering sound, and there the LORD was. In the same way, Jesus reveals his divine identity to the disciples in quiet, calming words: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” The disciples come to know Jesus by his words, and they proclaim: “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

God, just as Jesus reveals his identity to the disciples, I stand in disbelief of your presence. Unlike them, my response to you is not terror, not primordial fear; instead, subject to the modern age, I express conscious or unconscious skepticism each day as I consider how things come to be, how you are at work in the world. Still, you are present to me in the same way you were to Elijah and the disciples. Lord, you have authority over all of nature; you who calms the storms, give me the grace to put aside any frame of mind that prevents me from recognizing that you alone are God. “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for his word,” says the Gospel acclamation. God, quiet my heart today so I can hear your voice.

From the responsorial psalm: “I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD — for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.” Lord, give me courage to love and serve you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:14-20)

A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured.

Jesus demonstrates to the father and son his power to heal where the disciples failed. Jesus, who has complete faith in the strength of his Father, cures the boy immediately. His disciples ask him why they could not drive out the demon, and he tells them: “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” What might seem a swift dismissal of the disciples is instead Jesus’ invitation into that same relationship of faith with Our Father in heaven.

God, help me understand the significance of the Gospel as it relates to this day. Give me strength to accomplish your will, and help me turn to you for my needs. Along with hope and love, faith is one of the three theological virtues infused by you, and I ask to exercise that today with you beside me. As Jesus did with his faith in you, as your adopted son show me how to turn to you always to strengthen my relationship with you and receive your grace.

From the responsorial psalm: “I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:24-28)

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

With the words from today’s Gospel, Jesus proposes with all who would hear him the purpose and goal of discipleship: pick up your cross and follow him for the sake of eternal life. The paradox he presents to the disciples refers to the cross of this earthly existence and the Second Coming when “the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory.” In losing this life for his sake, losing oneself in the cross, new life comes to be; in a lifetime of losing one’s life for his sake, enteral life comes to be. What degree of loss am I willing to assume for the Lord’s sake?

Lord, you desire to bring me into your glory as an adopted son through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus your Son. What is the difficulty, what obstacle is there in seeing that in losing my life for your sake there is no loss but only gain? Help me remove any doubt that prevents me from losing my life, even little bits of my life, for your sake. Help me trust you. As Moses says in the first reading: “This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.” Lord, teach me to fix my heart on you.

From the responsorial psalm: “I remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I remember your wonders of old. And I meditate on your works; your exploits I ponder.” Saint Clare, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 12:24-26)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that unless a grain of wheat dies to produce fruit, it remains just a grain of wheat. Held on to for its own sake, life results in life lost; if it falls, though, it sprouts, takes root, and goes on to produce abundant fruit. Jesus then tells the disciples how this comes to be. In following and serving the Lord, the present life is lost in the love and service of his will. In that, the present life for its own sake is given up in love of the Father, who preserves us for eternal life.

God, you alone know what the words “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies” mean to me. Hearing that makes me reflect on the brevity of life and the sorrow of growing older, losing life bit by bit. Yet, you are the master of time and space; it is subject to your word. When Jesus says “whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life,” it is his body that is the grain of wheat, his dying that destroys death, and his rising that brings eternal life to all. Through participation in the Eucharist, the Mystical Body of Christ is life itself laid down and brought to eternal life through his resurrection. I die in this life to be brought into eternal life through taking the body and blood of your Son, the medicine of immortality.

From the responsorial psalm: “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.” Lord, let the light of your face shine upon me. Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.