This homily was given at St. Francis. The Gospel was Mt 1:1-25. Solo podemos decir feliz Navidad si aceptamos a Cristo come el salvador de nuestros pecados!
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Thursday, December 27, 2012
4th Sunday Advent English: the Annunciation & Christmas
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 1:39-45. So much depends on Our Lady's 'yes' to God, that we would not have Christ at Christmas if she had not allowed God to work in her life.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
3rd Monday Advent English: the not-so-saintly geneology of Jesus
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 1:1-17. God used sinful people in the family line of Jesus, which means that he can use every person to accomplish his will.
Monday, December 17, 2012
3rd Sunday Advent English: Gaudete Sunday- Joy in the Midst of our Nation's tragedy
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 3:10-18. If we want to stop the type of horrible things that we saw happen in Connecticut, then we need to stop investing in any type of sin that promotes what happened.
Friday, December 14, 2012
2nd Thursday Advent English: the Feast of St. Lucy
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 11:11-15. St. Lucy is an excellent example of courage and love of purity. May we follow her example and benefit from her prayers in our world that is so violently against sexual purity.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
2nd Wednesday Spanish & English: The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 1:26-38. Our Lady of Guadalupe's message speaks to us as never before.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
2nd Tuesday Advent English: Seek out God's lost sheep!!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 18: 12-14. God is seeking his lost sheep, are we willing to out to where they have strayed and bring them back to Jesus?
2nd Monday Advent Spanish: Pongamos nuestra Fe en Accion!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 5:17-26. La mejor Fe que podemos tener es la Fe que la vivimos en nuestro dia-a-dia.
Monday, December 10, 2012
2nd Monday Advent English: Living the Daily Scriptures
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 5:17-26. Today's Gospel invites us to enter more deeply in God's word by actually living and experiencing it in our own daily lives.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
1st Monday Advent English: Where is Jesus' healing?
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 8:5-11. The Gospel challenges us to see where Jesus' healing is in our Church today? Do we not have the Faith or the Holiness to see it in our lives?
Monday, December 3, 2012
1st Sunday Advent English: Prepare for Christmas with Prayer!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 21:25-28, 34-38. As we see people preparing for Christmas with lights, trees, and presents; how beautiful would it be if we prepare for Christ's coming with prayer!
1st Sunday Advent: Prepararse para Navidad con la Oracion
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36. Tal como vemos senales del fin del mundo en el Evangelio, y vemos senales en la Iglesia de que ya viene Navidad, nos deberiamos de prepara para la venido de Cristo con la Oracion.
Monday, November 26, 2012
34th Sunday English: Feast of Christ the King!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Jn 18:33-37. When we understand what a King is and how glorious Jesus Christ is, how blessed we are when we allow Him to be Our King.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
33rd Monday Spanish: Preguntas sobre la Fe
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Luke 18:35-43. Tomamos esta oportunidad para hacer preguntas sobre la fe. Esto va a ser una serie de Misas donde la gente puede preguntar y aprender sobre diferentes temas.
Monday, November 19, 2012
32nd Thursday English: What is the Kingdom of God? Where do we find it?
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 17:20-25. It is not always easy to understand what the Kingdom of God is since it is not always explicitly defined by Jesus. Daily examples can help us understand the beauty of the mystery.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
33rd Sunday English: We prepare for Life; Prepare for Heaven!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk13:24-32. We spend much time preparing for retirement, for college, and for all sorts of things; shouldn't we prepare for the day when we will meet our Lord?
32nd Tuesday English: Celebrating the Feast of St. Frances Cabrini!!!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 17:7-10. St. Frances Cabrini was the first US citizen to be canonized a saint. We are priviledged to have such a wonderful example of holiness as one of the US saints!!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
32nd Monday English: The Cross is our strength to Forgive
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 17:1-6. Since we cannot truly forgive unless the person has atoned for their sin, we need to Cross. The Cross is where Jesus paid the price for all of our sins and so the source of our ability to forgive.
Monday, November 12, 2012
32nd Sunday Spanish: Entregmonos a Jesus del Todo!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 12: 38-44. La viuda del Evangelio nos reta a entregarnos del todo a las manos de Dios. Si nos abrimos a conocer el amor de Dios, tambien tendremos la fuerza de abandonarnos a sus manos.
31st Friday English: We are God's Temple!!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Jn 2:13-22. Although there are many beautiful Cathedrals throughout the world, the most beautiful temples are you and me because we are true dwelling places of the Holy Spirit.
Monday, November 5, 2012
31st Monday English: Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, not as easy as it sounds!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 14:12-14. It may sound easy that we are called to help the less fortunate but it's quite a challenge when we get down to it.
31st Sunday English: Our Responsibility as Christians
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 12:28-34. We are called to participate in Christ's sacrifice each and every time we go to Mass through our giving to the Church.
31st Sunday Spanish: Nuestra Responsabilidad como Cristianos
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 12:28-24. Como parte de nuestra responsabilidad en ser Cristianos, tenemos que contribuir al sacrificio de Jesucristo.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
30th Monday Spanish: El Poder del Rosario
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 13:10-17. En este mes de Octubre celebramos la devocion del Rosario. La Virgen nos da 13 promesas para los que son fieles a esta muy bella oracion. Tomemos nuestros Rosarios para cambira nuestras vidas y nuestro mundo.
30th Monday English: With God, we can overcome all Evil!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 13:10-17. The devil is the cause of much evil in the world, therefore, we must have recourse to the power of Christ to bring God's goodness into our daily life.
Monday, October 29, 2012
30th Sunday Spanish: Que quieres que Jesus haga por ti?
Esta homilia se dio en San Francis de Sales. El evangelio era Mk 10: 46-52. Jesus le pregunta al hombre ciego: que quieres que haga por ti? Tenemos la humildad de dejar que Jesus nos haga esa pregunta? Cual seria nuestra pregunta?
30th Sunday English: What do you want Jesus to do for You?
This homily was give at St. Laurence. The Gospel reading was Mk 10:46-52. Jesus asks the blind man what he wants for him to do? Are we willing to allow Jesus to ask us this question. What would we tell hiim?
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
29th Monday Spanish: Nuestra Fe es la Puerta a Dios
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The reading was Lk 12:13-21. La salvacion la recibimos dependiendo de como estamos dispuestos a recibir los regalos de Dios. Dios siempre da de su parte, pero nosotros no experimentamos eso por no le habrimos la puerta de al fe con suficiente generosidad. Tengamos el valor de habrirle la puerta de la Fe.
29th Monday English: Are you Saved?
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The reading was Lk 12:13-21. The first reading tells us that salvation is a gift. How do Protestants and Catholics differ on this issue? Salvation is both the work of God and the acceptance of it by human beings.
Monday, October 22, 2012
29th Sunday English: The Cross leads to Glory!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The readings were Mk 10:35-45. If we take up our suffering with Jesus, we will God's glory shine through our frail human nature. Allow Christ's love to give you the strenght to do so.
Steel Lecture given by Bishop Daniel Flores
The following talk was given by Bishop Flores on the topic of Voting, Our Faith, Health Care & Immigration. It gives much food for thought and so should be listed to very carefully. Enjoy!
Monday, October 8, 2012
27th Sunday English: The family is the source of who we are!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 10:2-16. Our identity is found above all in the love of the faimly and God invites us to enter into this mystery and to lovingly accept the life that He sends us.
27th Sunday Spanish: La familia fuente de nuestra Identidad
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 10:2-16. Dentro de la familia es donde encontramos nuestra identidad. Dios nos pide que nos abramos al amor de familia y a aceptar la vida que El manda.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
26th Monday English: The feast of St. Therese
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 18:35-43. We are invited to follow the beautiful example of St. Therese's humility and love for Jesus!
Monday, October 1, 2012
26th Sunday English: Cut Sin from your Life!!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 9:38-48. Jesus wants us to cut sin completely from our lives and experience the freedom of the children of God.
26th Sunday Spanish: Cortemos con el Pecado!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 9:38-48. Jesus nos pide que cortemos con el pecado para acercarnos mas a Dios.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
25th Tuesday English: We are the Family of Jesus
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 8:19-21. Our source of joy as Christians is to know that in Christ we become the family of God most especially when we listen to God's Word and act on it.
Monday, September 24, 2012
25th Monday English: We are the Light of the World
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Lk 8:16-18. We are called to take our faith seriously, to be public witnesses in the World and to believe that Jesus is Lord.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
25th Sunday Spanish: La Humildad el Camino hacia Dios
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 9:30-37. Jesus nos ensena que el caminod hacia el es el de humildad. Pero primero tenemos que aprender que es la humildad y como la podemos aplicar en nuestras vidas.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
24th Friday English: Jesus' call to "Come Follow Me!"
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 9:9-13. Jesus invites us to come follow Him in life and even in Death. The Rosary is a prayer that helps us on this journey towards Jesus.
Friday, September 21, 2012
24th Tuesday English: Our Gifts & Charisms as a path to relationship with Christ
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The readings were from Lk 7:11-17. We are invited into a deeper relationship with Christ, one that is alive and active. Our gifts are a way to enter deeper into that relationship.
24th Sunday English: A Faith that Works, Works!
This Mass was give at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 8:27-35. We must have a Faith that is lived out through our loving actions towards one another.
Friday, September 14, 2012
23rd Tuesday English: Joy as a response to Suffering
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel for the day was: Lk 6:12-19. In the midst of suffering, we can respond to it with joy because of Jesus's great love for us on the Cross.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
23rd Monday English: Our Christian call to rid the world of Evil!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Luke 6:6-11. We are called to take up our cross of suffering in order to rid the world of evil. This can only be done joyfully with the help of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit!
Monday, September 10, 2012
23rd Sunday English: What is your Miracle?
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 7:31-37. Mark proves to his contemporaries that Jesus is Lord through his miracles, but we must allow Jesus to do miracles in our own life so that our faith in him as Lord may increase.
23rd Sunday Spanish: Cual es tu Milagro?
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 7:31-37. Jesus quiere hacer milagros en nuestras vidas pero tenemos que ponernos de rodias y pedir con Fe. A traves de los Milagros, llegamos a tener fe en Cristo como nuestro Dios.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
22nd Saturday English: The Birth of the Queen!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 1:18-23. The grace received by Mary had to do with her holy parents and the circumstances of her birth. This gives her an advantage that we also benefit from if we only ask Our Blessed Mother for help!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
22nd Sunday English: Sinful desires are what defile!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. It is easier to stop sin in the heart than once we begin committing sinful actions. We should allow the Holy Spirit to purify our desires and lead our country into laws in accord with God's law.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
21st Tuesday English: the Feast of St. Augustine
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was Mt 23:23-26. On the feast of St. Augustine, we receive light from this beautiful saint who shares with us his wisdom and struggles. "Lord, give me Chastity, but not yet...." St. Augustine
21st Monday Spanish: El Amor que Dios nos tiene
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The reading was from Mt 23:13-22. Nuestras tradiciones solo tienen sentido si conocemos y vivimos el amor del Padre.
Monday, August 27, 2012
21st Sunday Spanish: Verdaderos Hombres de Dios
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The readings was John 6:60-69. Tenemos que ser hombres de Jesus, Maria, y de las Escrituras si queremos ser el tipo de hombre que Dios quiere que seamos.
21st Sunday English: True Masculinity & Femininity
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel for that day was John 6:60-69. St. Paul challenges us to live out our role as men & women, not as we choose to but as God envisioned it. This will bring true freedom.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
20th Thursday English: Prepare for the Wedding feast!
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The reading for the day was Mt 22:1-14. We should not take for granted our invitation from God and so we should prepare through the sacraments and prayer to enter into the Wedding feast.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
20th Tuesday English: the feast of St. Pius X
This homily was given at St. Francis de Sales. The Gospel was from Mt 19:23-30. It is difficult for the Rich to enter Heaven because we think ourselves to be God. With humility as St. Pius had, however, we will overcome and enter Heaven through the narrow gate.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
St. Pius X and the Rosary
St. Pius X had an incredible love for the Blessed Mother. He saw that it was by going to her that we would come more closely to Our Lord Jesus. He says:
"The Rosary...is the prayer that touches most the heart of the Mother of God...and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family rosary."
Imagine how busy a priest would be...then a bishop...and not just that but the Bishop of Rome, the Pope himself, and yet to make time to pray the Rosary in such a way as to understand that it is the prayer that leads us most closely to the heart of Mary. He understood what many of us have experienced for ourselves and wish for others to experience, that the Rosary is a powerful weapon but also a chain of love that binds our hearts to Hers.
His love for her was in prayer but it was also on the intellectual level. He published an encyclical honoring Our Lady's Immaculate Conception and stating clearly that:
"...there is no surer or more direct road than by Mary for uniting all mankind in Christ and obtaining through Him the perfect adoption of sons.."
You can read more of the Encyclical here: On the 50th Anniversary of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception
There is nothing more beautiful than to have a man who is placed in such a position of influence and power and yet to completely submit himself not only to Jesus but also to His Mother and so give us an incredible example of the tender love that we should for so tender a Mother.
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Tuesday, July 31, 2012
St. Ignatius of Loyola & Our Lady
Many recognize St. Ignatius for his incredible contribution to discernment of God's will and spiritual retreats, however, many do not know that he had a quite spectacular encounter with Our Lady that allowed him to become the saint that we know him to be.
Read and meditate on what is written in his Autobiography:
"The vain thoughts were gradually lessened by means of these desires—desires that were not a little
strengthened by the following vision. While watching one night he plainly saw the image of the Blessed
Mother of God with the Infant Jesus, at the sight of which, for a considerable time, he received abundant
consolation, and felt such contrition for his past life that he thought of nothing else. From that time until
August, 1555, when this was written, he never felt the least motion of concupiscence. This privilege we may suppose from this fact to have been a divine gift, although we dare not state it, nor say anything except
confirm what has been already said. His brother and all in the house recognized from what appeared
externally how great a change had taken place in his soul."
We must understand that he had already had his initial conversion after his injury from battle and he had already begun to experience and formulate what would later become the Spiritual Exercises. Prior to this apparition, he had entered a period of reparation for his past sins, which included fasting and scourging himself. These would have been considered quite normal for any ascetic at the time. What we can understand from this experience of St. Ignatius is the importance of Chastity and Our Lady's role in bringing us to that point. The Scriptures are quite clear when the Psalms say "Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? The man with clean hands and a pure heart..." (Psalm 24)
Notice that this was not given to him simply as the result of his effort; his effort merely laid the groundwork for this incredible and free gift that was given to him by God through Our Lady. Just as Our Lady's Immaculate Conception was the foundation for her mission in her life, so too was this gift of chastity essential for St. Ignatius establishing the Jesuits as well as giving us the Spiritual Exercises. Is this any surprise, since our God is a God of Love and love is above all things pure and chaste.
In every major religion of the world, we see a great desire to commune with the Divine and to climb that difficult mountain. The gift of Chastity is the most difficult obstacle for every human to overcome since it is ultimately the work of God to overcome our lusts and sinful desires. The only thing that we can do is prepare the groundwork to receive this gift from the hands of Our Lady.
Let us imitate the example of St. Ignatius, atone for our sins and lay the groundwork for God to give us this magnificent gift of chastity through the most pure and holy hands of Our Blessed Mother.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Scapular and the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel give us something very important to think about. First of all, we begin with Mt. Carmel, a mountain in Jerusalem near Mt. Tabor or the place where Jesus was transfigured. Ever since the prophet Elijah, this has been a place of prayer for hermits and other ascetics. Somewhere in the 1200s, St. Simon Stock received an apparition of our Lady where she promised to release from Purgatory on the Saturday after their death, those that were part of his religious community and were faithful to chastity.
Over time, this developed in the Scapular for Lay People since they wanted to have the same benefits that was given to the Carmelites. This devotion, therefore, is very old and gives us a very important grace from God. What does it involve? Simply wear a blessed scapular, live chastity according to your state in life whether married or not, and offer Our Lady some prayer (Hail Marys or the Salve Regina).
For those that are more aware of the demand of holiness from our God, they realized quickly that this is a very easy way for us to avoid the necessary purifying of Purgatory once we die. You see, nothing imperfect can enter Heaven, and so if we die in a state of grace (no mortal sin) and yet still have some venial sins or impoerfections on our soul, then God will purify through the fires of Purgatory. Let me put it this way, the last time you tried to remove an imperfection or flaw from your behavior, did if feel good? NO WAY. Imagine how it will feel in Purgatory!!!! So this is a very generous mercy that God gives us to through our Lady.
Some people might respond that this sounds a bit too mechanical, superstitious, or presuming an overly severe God. I would respond quite the opposite! God is merciful, but his mercy takes on concrete forms: such as the brown scapular that we are here mentioning. His mercy becomes tangible through these sacramentals and prayers that we can offer up on a daily basis. And mechanical? No WAY! You try living a chaste life and tell ME if it is mechanical!! It is a life that is filled with God's love and driven by the Holy Spirit. Let us take up with renewed faith this beautiful and ancient devotion to Our Lady!
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Virgin Mary: Perfect Instrument of Jesus
The saints were ones who were given a special privilege to God but also chose in a high degree to give themselves and love God. Each 'yes' of the saint is 'yes' to different aspects of God since God is infinite and not simply binary. He is, so to speak, of an infinite amount of colors and different saints focused on different aspects or colors of God. The way this translates is that there are saints that are patrons of different countries, different careers, or different situations in life. Since everything that is created is a reflection of the infinity of God, those that had a particular love for some aspect of creation consequently had a particular love for that 'reflection' of God. So if you really love the people of China over and above other people, you will also love that particular aspect of God in a way that is more than others who loved other aspects of God. That's why some saints have more influence with certain situations than others because in their life they had a special dedication to that specific situation.
So if you choose, for instance, to love animals with a particular love on Earth, this will affect the love that you have access to in Heaven, since you chose to love the aspect of God that is reflected in animals.
There are saints that loved with such an intense love that they have more universal love that is able to cover more people. Examples would be the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. They had a love for God that encompassed a wider variety of aspects of the creation than most other saints, therefore they have more influence in Heaven since they loved more universally on Earth. So if we think of God's infinity in terms of the spectrum of light...those that opened their hearts more widely on Earth will be able to allow more of God's light (in terms of spectrum) shine from Heaven.
What is the role then of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is able to allow a greater outpouring of God's light for several reasons. Due to the special gift of her Immaculate Conception, she has a superabundant freedom and ability to say yes to God and so to love His creation in a way far above that of other humans. So in this way, Mary had a head start, in that she required no healing of her ability to say yes to God. She had no interior stumbling blocks in embracing all that is a part of the mystery of God.
Let's come up with a simple analogy to help explain the difference between Mary and the other saints. If Jesus is a race car driver and we are cars, then it seems that he wants to drive us past the finish line. We will finish the race depending on how fast we can go but also how little time we need to re-fill on gas and fix the car. If we require constant fill-ups and constant engine check-ups, then we will finish the race but while taking a very long time. If we have nothing to fix and are fuel-efficient, then we will finish the race at the time that is appropriate for us. So while the other cars are not as fuel efficient and are missing certain parts or have defective parts, Mary is both fuel-efficient and in perfect working condition. Therefore she can finish the race before many of us can even get ourselves started. She finishes the race so fast, that she can drive Jesus back and forth to help those that have blown out tires, have run out of gas, or haven't even started the race.
In this way, we can say that Mary is the Co-Redemptrix, in that she was so effectively healed by Christ at her conception that she was a true vehicle for bringing forth God's grace into the world. Now while Jesus could have finished the race without use of a car, out of love for Mary he allowed her to be a instrument of his power.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Mary: Virgin Mother
The Church teaches and believes that the Blessed Virgin Mary is in fact that: a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. What is the significance for us in our lives? Is this just a teaching that is important to nuns or priests? What is God doing through Mary, that will also affect us?
It will be important for us to understand that Mary's Virginity is completely the initiative of God. This is something that is given to her as a gift in order to establish a type of new creation. Mary's perpetual virginity is closely connected to the reality that she is redeemed by Christ in a completely unique and singular way. What does this mean? The Church knows that Christ became incarnate in order to restore creation to its original beauty. After all, if there was nothing wrong with the world and there was no sin, then it wouldn't have needed a savior.
Christ, through his suffering on the Cross and through a complete gift, redeemed Mary to such a degree that she became as Paul says a new creation. So in this way, Mary is like an icon of the Garden of Eden, the original creation. What God created when he made the garden of Eden, he re-created when he made the Virgin Mary. Just as the Garden of Eden, Mary was completely in harmony with God. There was nothing keeping her separate from God nor was there anything that would enter into her that would keep her from God. So in this way, her Virginity speaks loudly about her 'untouched' nature just as we speak of the "Virgin Islands". Why are they the Virgin Islands? Because of their pristine nature.
This took Mary an incredible amount of faith and shows her wonderful gift of self to God. There was no way that she could understand what God wanted to do with her, since she had never seen it or experienced it before. God wanted to make her a 'new creation', and she completely allowed and trusted in his hand. How did she have the strength to give herself completely to God? We can understand that in being redeemed even before her birth, she was given a freedom that was truly free. She was fully free to say yes to God.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The disobedience of Eve & the obedience of Mary
Why was Eve disobedient? Why did Mary disobey? God is a God of love and not an evil genius that delights in our uncertainty. He gives us many signs under the guise of our ordinary life.
The Fathers of the Church will say that the whole of the universe is waiting for the "yes" of Mary.
What preceded Eve's disobedient was disbelief because perhaps she felt that she knew better than what God had to say. Mary on the other hand felt that she didn't know better and that she had in fact every right to trust in God. What a struggle we have in choosing between Eve and Mary. The early Church fathers saw the Virgin Mary as the new Eve, the new mother of all the living.
In today's class we compared and spoke much about the difference between the two. On a very simple level, Eve was disobedient and Mary was obedient. This leads us to ask several questions but most importantly 'what was behind their decisions?' We believe that Even was created perfectly and so why did she disobey God whom she knew so well? What becomes apparent is that she disobeyed God first because she began to lose faith and trust in him. The devil in Genesis is shown to strike at her relationship with God. He wanted her to believe that God was somehow sinister and did not want the good for her. *This is so much like our hearts! We struggle to come closer to God because as we come closer, we realize how mysterious and unknown he is to us. God is a mystery and there is always more to learn and know about him.
Therefore, God causes much fear in us because he is like an abyss of light...although He is light...there is so much that we are afraid to dive in... It seems that there are two fundamental reactions to God...to be afraid or to trust...once we fear...we distrust...and then we disobey...which is the path of Eve. When we choose to release our fear...we trust..and then we obey...which is the path of Mary. Clearly, this courage that we are invited to have before God is only something that can be given to us as a Grace.
Monday, February 6, 2012
This week's class, the Annunciation: mirror of our life
In the previous week we focused on the profound joy that is be found in the Annunciation. This week we focused on how the Annunciation has elements of a miraculous birth but also of a vocation narrative. I want to spell out here the second part.
We can see in the Annunciation, a mirror for our own life. The Angel Gabriel presented to Mary first a greeting of joy and then an explanation of what God will do in her life. Our life is perhaps much more simple but nonetheless wonderful. Think about it, our life isn't always chosen by us but instead it comes to us new each day like an invisible angel that is presenting it to us as a gift. Every morning that we wake up, we don't choose the day and how it will come to us, rather, the day has already been chosen for us. It comes to us like a gift; it also comes to us as a challenge. Our life tells us: 'this is what will happen to you and this is who you are to become..."
It makes us ask the same questions that the Virgin Mary asks: "But how can this come about, since I do not know man?" We might ask: Who will I become? How will I accomplish all the things my hearts desires? How will I accomplish all the things that the hearts of others and God's heart desire for me? And notice that for all of us, God is merciful. He is not afraid of our questions, but we are often afraid of His answers! Gabriel explains to Mary and even offers her tangible signs that what he says is indeed from God. This has certainly been true in my life: I ask, God, 'How will I know that you will be there for me?' Time after time, the Father has shown me through signs and other people how his power will bring things about.
The answer is almost always the same as for Our Lady: "for nothing is impossible to God" This is where we need the help of Mary to say "let what you have said be done to me." Why is it so hard to say yes to Our Heavenly Father's will? Because we don't know what is truly in His Heart!! Who knows the heart of the Father as much as the Blessed Mother? She knew His heart so deeply, that she realize in the depths of her heart that He indeed was trustworthy. We run to the Blessed Mother because SHE first said yes to God's will and will give us the strength to say yes to the Father!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thoughts from this week's Mariology class: the Joy of the Blessed Virgin Mary
These are just some thoughts from part of my class in Mariology. Take a close look at the greeting given the Virgin Mary and the great joy that is spoken of by the prophet Zephaniah. What came to mind for me is that although Luke doesn't describe with much detail the joy experienced by Mary, Zephaniah gives us a deep insight into her inner world even though he wrote inspired by the Holy Spirit centuries before Mary's birth.
The greeting that Gabriel gave to Mary has a parallel with the prophet Zephaniah. Zephaniah has an incredible hope and speaks of the Daughter of Zion, which can be fulfilled most fully in Mary.
Luke 1
28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32
The Prophet Zephaniah 3:14-18
"14 Shout for joy, daughter Zion! sing joyfully, Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 16 On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, Zion, do not be discouraged! 17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you, 18 as on festival days."
There are these themes found in Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Joel. There is a tremendous amount of joy that is contagious and should be shared. Joy is not the absence of suffering but the presence of God. These New Testament authors give us the secret of Christianity that there is this incredible joy to be shared. If we haven't found this Christian joy then the encounter with the Lord Jesus has not be efficacious. So in the encounter that we see with Elizabeth and Mary, we have an invitation to enter into this Christian joy.
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