http://www.vaticanfriends.com/networkVaticanFriends.com http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=677 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=677 Jesus is making two things clear to us today. First, he wants us to have no illusions about following him. His path is a hard path. Our nature is fallen, and to get back up again, even with his grace helping us, is going to be hard. It will involve self-sacrifice and suffering: "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot by my disciple." That is the obvious lesson in this Gospel passage.  We can never let ourselves forget it. But there is another lesson too, equally worth our attention. Jesus is teaching us that following him involves more than feelings and vague inspirations.  We are supposed to use our minds, to put our creativity and intelligence to work in the adventure of following Christ.  This is clear from the examples Jesus uses. The builder and the warring king had to channel their enthusiasm through the cool filter of reason. Christians must do the same. The emotional excitement that comes from a retreat or a pilgrimage or a special grace-filled encounter with the Lord is like the blossoms on a cherry tree. They bloom quickly and fill our souls with a sweet aroma, but then the long summer comes, and we have to persevere patiently, following an intelligent plan of spiritual and apostolic work, before the fruit matures. Love, even the lasting love that comes from friendship with Christ, is often born amidst intense emotions, but it matures through sweat and suffering, and those can only be endured with the aid of reason and conviction - both of which go deeper than mere passing emotions. Following Christ is more than following a whim; it is a long-term project that deserves and engages the whole person. It is perplexing that so many of us accept the fact that success in other walks of life takes hard work, but we think being a faithful Christian comes without effort. George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars movies, described the kind of work ethic that went into writing the screenplay for the original Star Wars: ... Homily continues here Wed, 1 Sep 2010 19:09:52 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=676 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=676 Book of Wisdom 9:13-18. For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what our LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom.   For the other readings click here Wed, 1 Sep 2010 18:09:26 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=675 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=675 At first glance, the lessons of this passage seem simple and straightforward; at second glance, they are shocking.  On the surface, they advocate humility and generosity: don't assume your importance by sitting in the seat of honor on your own initiative; don't give your hospitality just to people who can pay you back. Certainly Jesus intends to teach these lessons, and certainly the pompous and vain Pharisees needed to learn them, just as we need to learn them, but there's more going on here.  Isn't it interesting that Jesus doesn't say, "You should not want to be honored at all," and "You should seek no reward for your good deeds"? That is what the modern secular humanists would tell us: true Christian virtue, so they say, means absolute selflessness, even to the point of killing the desire for happiness and fulfillment.In fact, some modern philosophers have even found fault with Christians because they try to do what is right and good, since doing what is right and good makes us happy. But those critics are way off base. We cannot kill our desire for fulfillment. It is built in - God put it there, like a homing device that constantly leads us towards him. And so, Christ doesn't condemn the natural desire for honor and reward; he elevates it.  We should seek the true reward of lasting happiness that comes from living in friendship with God. That means practicing the virtue of humility, since only the humble can have authentic friendships.And we should put ourselves in "the lowest place" now, serving others while we can, so that we can be lifted higher later. Christ is the ultimate realist; he knows the human heart (after all, he made it), and doesn't want to stifle it - he wants to set it free. Humility frees us to maximize our God-given talents, because it frees us from being afraid of what other people will think. The history of art and music is full of examples of this... For further reading of this homily click here  Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:08:53 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=674 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=674  Hello friends!Just thought this article might be of interest to you since VF is, after all, an online community of friends. ------------------------------------------------------------------- How "Catholic" should you be online?by Matthew Warner Can you be too Catholic? Is there an appropriate time and place to be so very Catholic? Are there times when you need to cool it with all that Catholic stuff? Especially when interacting with others online? Are you ever afraid of offending somebody with your “orthodox” Catholicism? If you have any kind of online profile, whether it’s on your own blog or a simple Facebook account, you may have asked yourself at some point, “How Catholic should I be?” Should I share this link about my faith? Should I take down the bloody, gory picture of the crucified Jesus I put up as my profile picture? Is it a bit much when I post a prayer as my status message? These are all natural questions. And we are all still learning the proper etiquette and what makes for effective evangelism online. The one hard and fast rule that you can take to your online bank is that there are no hard and fast rules on the untamed digital continent. There are best practices. But each one must be uniquely applied and evaluated by the fluid standards of an ever-changing platform. Back to the original question. How Catholic should you be online? It’s really the wrong question. Being Catholic is who we are. Not just how we express ourselves. We are to always and everywhere be 100% Catholic and 100% faithful to the Church. No exceptions and no compromises. That’s an easy answer. I think the real question at the heart of these issues is: How do we share our faith genuinely and effectively online? I find there are 3 major issues Catholics often struggle with when sharing their faith online: 1) We struggle with being genuine. If we are to be 100% Catholic, that means admitting we aren’t perfect. Our Church may have all the answers, but, as individuals, we certainly do not. Don’t pretend to. We are scared that if we admit our weakness that we are somehow admitting a weakness in our Church. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The humility that comes with being 100% Catholic is one of the most powerful ways to share your faith. Even if that is not immediately evident. 2) We often only think about what we’re saying, not how others may be hearing it. With many of the things we share online, we can not control who sees them, when they see them, the mood they’re in when they read them, etc.  Additionally, by its very nature, online communication is less personable and deaf to many of the nuances of language. We must take all of this into account. 3) Sometimes we (me included) pretend we are courageously standing up for the Truth, when it’s actually just a lame, transparent mask of our own pride. Deep down, unfortunately, our real motivation for sharing is often that we just want to make sure others know that they are wrong and that we are right. But that’s sinful, and it’s not being Catholic at all. It probably gets a few positive responses from people who already agree with us, while it pushes many others outside of the Church even further away. You know the guy who stands on the street corner outside of the bar and loudly condemns to hell everyone who walks in for a drink? Don’t be that guy. Most of the things people clumsily call “being too Catholic” online are really just digital manifestations of that guy hiding behind an internet connection. Being 100% Catholic is about walking the walk, not just talking it. Unfortunately, social media is far more focused on the talking than the walking. Don’t fall into that trap. Evangelism is about relationships. Don’t use your online platform (be it large or small) as only a megaphone (you’ll soon find nobody listening). Use it to listen, share and to build genuine relationships. That is a key ingredient of effective evangelism. It’s about truth and charity. If you have not Love, you are but a clanging cymbal. Clanging cymbals are not Catholic at all. The goal is not just to speak the truth. It’s to lovingly convince others of it. That can mean all kinds of different things and take all kinds of different forms for different kinds of people and walks of life - especially in these emerging media. But if you can keep your true goals and motivations in check, it will be a lot easier to discern the unique opportunities God is providing for you to share your faith online. Be genuine. Love boldly. Be 100% Catholic. ---------------------From: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/how-catholic-should-you-be-online/ Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:08:33 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=673 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=673 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14:1.7-14. On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010The other readings are here  Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:08:33 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=672 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=672 A Paz e o Amor do Senhor estejam em teu coração!Venho por esta mensagem convidar-te a conhecer um inovador podcast de Espiritualidade e Formação.É o CEFAScast!Podcast são arquivos de áudio em MP3 que você pode escutar em qualquer lugar a qualquer ora!Um material maravilhoso para você baixar e escutar gratuitamente!É um novo e abençoado meio de evangelização e formação!Conheça e divulgue!Baixe, escute e ore conosco!E divulgue! Acesse: http://cefascast.blogspot.com/Gostaria que divulgasse também.Conheça também nosso site principal:www.missaocefas.orgDeus te abençoe! Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:08:33 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=671 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=671 The Church is reminding us of three things in today's Gospel passages: First, that heaven exists. This is the banquet in the Kingdom of God, the way Jesus describes salvation and eternal life. Second, that hell exists. This is what's outside that banquet, where there is "wailing and grinding of teeth" - images of the hopeless frustration that the human soul experiences when it is cut off forever from friendship with God. And third, that in order to make our way to heaven, we have to keep on doing our part. It is not enough to have a superficial knowledge of Christ - like the people who said, "We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets." Rather, we have to have a living, lasting, growing friendship with Christ. That is what we were created for, and that is what will lead us to true life. And since friendship always involves effort, self-sacrifice, and the investment of time and energy, the same thing goes for our friendship with Christ. Salvation comes from actually following him, from striving to know him better and live out his teaching. This is what Jesus means by "the narrow gate" that leads to salvation. To get through a narrow gate you have to leave behind all your excess baggage - you have to go through it on purpose. It is possible to be labeled a Christian on the outside without really making an effort to follow the Christian way in our hearts. It is possible to come to Mass, to be involved with parish activities, and still never really enter into a committed, life-changing, personal relationship with Christ. Jesus knows that going through the motions isn't enough; we need to let his grace change our lives. This conversation that Christ has about how many people will be saved is not easy to swallow...To read more of this homily click here Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:08:18 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=670 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=670 Book of Isaiah 66:18-21. I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. They shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their offering to the house of the LORD in clean vessels. Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD. For the other readings click here  Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:08:15 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=668 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=668 We are strange creatures, we human beings. We can think ahead and make plans. We can remember past events at will. We can daydream, imagine and problem-solve. In all these ways, we seem able to perform actions outside the limits of time and space. This is because we are created in God's image, and our souls are spiritual, self-conscious, able to know and come into contact with eternal truths. But we are not completely spiritual. We are incarnate spirits. Our minds and wills are united to our bodies. And so time and space really do limit us. We can't think of someone we love all the time - we have to take care of other business. God doesn't have that problem. He is always thinking of each of us. Nothing limits his concern and attention. Look at John the Baptist. Before he is born he is already fulfilling a mission God has assigned to him - God was already guiding him. Mary too had received a mission even before she was conceived. God was already thinking of her, and so she was conceived without original sin, which is one of the reasons it was so fitting for God to assume her directly into heaven when her earthly mission was finished, as we celebrate today. Again, in the dramatic story from the Book of Revelation, we see God intervening right at the moment when the woman gave birth, saving the baby from the destructive jaws of the dragon. This too is symbolic language showing that God was paying attention the whole time. Nothing escapes his loving gaze. God is already caring for us long before we realize it - just as he was with Mary, with John the Baptist, with the child the dragon wanted to destroy. One of the greatest painters alive today keeps putting this lesson into her work. Her name is Natalia Tsarkova... Continued reading of this homily here Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:08:38 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=667 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=667 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1:39-56. During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010For the other readings click here  Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:08:29 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=662 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=662 These parables paint a vivid picture of who Christ is and what the Church is. The clearer that picture is in our minds, the better we will be able to live as true Christians. In these parables, Christ portrays himself as the master of the house, the head of a grand estate. We can picture a huge mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens, full of visitors and family members and bustling servants. In the parable, the servants are Christ's disciples, and the head servants, or stewards, are his specially chosen Apostles. This is the picture he wants us to have of his Church: not something vague, cold, and impersonal, but a household, a place of life and communion, work and relaxation. Even when the Master is absent from the estate, the servants are still meant to keep the household going responsibly and energetically. This is an image of the Church in this world, in the midst of human history, before Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead and to make a new heaven and a new earth.During this period, Jesus has delegated his authority to the stewards, to the Apostles and their successors, our bishops, who are in charge of overseeing the work of all Christ's disciples. This tells us a lot about Christ's leadership style. He wants us to be his co-workers, friends, real members of his household - not just mindless robots or slaves. And yet, Christ remains the Master. He is the creator, redeemer, and owner of the universe.  The universe is not a democracy. Christ is not an elected official who we can vote out of office. No, the Lord is Lord by nature, because he is all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving. And we are his followers. This is the reason that, as Christians we often kneel when we pray...  Read more here  Sat, 7 Aug 2010 06:08:32 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=661 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=661 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:32-48. Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010 For the other readings click here Sat, 7 Aug 2010 04:08:20 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=660 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=660 We don't know anything about this man who came asking Christ to settle his dispute. Maybe he was sincerely interested in justice. Maybe he was just being greedy. In either case, Jesus makes the most of the encounter to teach one of the most basic (though not the most popular) Christian lessons: the meaning of life does not consist in getting rich; our lives do not consist of having possessions; or, to correct a popular bumper sticker - whoever dies with the most toys does not win anything at all. This is the same lesson that we heard in the First Reading. Its emphasis on the vanity and meaninglessness of things sounds harsh, but it's really just reminding us an obvious truth: our life on earth is passing. It will come to an end. Therefore, we shouldn't pretend that it won't. We shouldn't treat the things of this earth, as wonderful and beautiful and useful as they are, as if they were ends in themselves. They aren't. They are means to an end, instruments to help us fulfill a much higher purpose, that of knowing and loving God. We need money and possessions in order to live dignified lives, and it is certainly no sin to enjoy them. But if striving after them makes us neglect a healthy relationship with God, the Church, and our neighbors, we will come to a tragic end, just like the rich man in the parable... Read more of this homily here Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:07:06 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=659 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=659 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:13-21. Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God." ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010Other readings here Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:07:56 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=658 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=658 Jesus makes some bold statements in this Gospel passage. He says that whoever asks will receive, whoever seeks will find, and whoever knocks will get the door opened. Did he really mean that?  Shouldn't he have said, almost everyone? Can he really make such an unconditional guarantee? He can. After all, he is all-powerful and all-knowing. Even so, it still seems too good to be true.  It's hard for us to accept these phrases just as they stand. We kind of want to treat them like poetry, to admire their beauty without taking them literally. Jesus knew that we would be tempted to doubt them.  So he reiterated them into us by using examples. Would any earthly father worthy of the title torture his children by giving them stones instead of bread or a little balled up scorpion instead of an egg? Of course not. Even though we are fallen human beings, selfish sinners, "wicked" as Jesus says, we still try to give good things to those we love. Well then, we can easily understand how God, whose love is unencumbered by even the slightest smidgeon of selfishness, is certainly even more eager to give good things to us, whom he loves tirelessly and without measure.  Just as Christ answered his disciples' request to teach them how to pray by giving them the Our Father, the most perfect of prayers, so he will hear every request we ask of him, and answer it even more generously than we could possibly have hoped for.   Yes, those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find, because God is simply too good not to answer every prayer he hears. Sometimes, however, God doesn't give us the answer that we want... For further reading click here Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:07:21 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=657 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=657 Psalms 138(137):1-2.3.6.7-8.Of David. I thank you, LORD, with all my heart; before the gods to you I sing. I bow low toward your holy temple; I praise your name for your fidelity and love. For you have exalted over all your name and your promise. When I cried out, you answered; you strengthened my spirit. The LORD is on high, but cares for the lowly and knows the proud from afar. Though I walk in the midst of dangers, you guard my life when my enemies rage. You stretch out your hand; your right hand saves me. The LORD is with me to the end. LORD, your love endures forever. Never forsake the work of your hands! You can find the other readings here Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:07:26 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=656 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=656 A branch cannot bear fruit unless it's connected to the tree.  Christ reminded us of this truth at the Last Supper, when he told his Apostles that he was the vine and they were the branches, so they should always stay united to him. His encounter with Mary and Martha in today's Gospel teaches us the same lesson, a lesson that Martha really needed to learn. Martha needed to learn that what we do for Christ has to flow out of what we are for him: true and devoted friends. It's easy to overload our agenda with so many activities and commitments (even good and beneficial ones) that we lose sight of our real goal in life: to know, love, and imitate Christ more each day. Only that will give real meaning to our lives. Only that will enable us to help others find meaning. Only that will fill us with the steadily increasing joy we long for. Jesus isn't saying that we shouldn't do things, serve others, work hard, and honor our commitments.  No, Jesus doesn't reprimand Martha for her activity. He reprimands her for being "worried and anxious" about all those activities. She has become so caught up in getting things done, that she has lost sight of why she's doing them. She is like a branch desperately trying to bear fruit by its own power. The result is predictable - frustration, anger, impatience, losing her temper. Unless we are plugged into Christ and his grace, unless we constantly feed our souls with his words, unless everything we do flows out of our friendship with him - the one thing necessary - none of our actions, even the good ones, can have lasting value. And only lasting value will give peace to our hearts. St Phillip Neri learned this lesson well... For further reading click here Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:07:06 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=655 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=655 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10:38-42. As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary (who) sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010For the other readings click here Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:07:59 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=654 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=654 Christ's lesson is so simple! "Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself, and you will live." It is within everyone's reach to live out this simple lesson. It was even within the reach of a Samaritan, and Samaritans were considered very low class by Jews at the time of Jesus. It summarizes the entire gospel, the entire meaning of life, with such eloquent simplicity! But we are not satisfied with simplicity. We, like the scholar in the Gospel passage, pester him for clarifications, "Yes, but who actually is my neighbor? ..." Jesus didn't lose patience with the questioning scholar, and he doesn't lose patience with us. He gives us the parable to explain what he means. And through the centuries, he has generously given further explanations: the words and examples of thousands of saints, the teaching of the Church in every age, the nudges of our conscience... But we still complicate our lives; we still find it hard to learn the lesson. It's almost as if part of us doesn't really want to learn it. Why? What holds us back from deciding once and for all to make Christ's standard our own? Each of us has our own brand of selfishness, and selfishness creates comfortable shadows in our lives. When we get too used to them, the simple, bright light of Christ's truth hurts our eyes. But in our hearts, that simplicity rings true. We see the brilliant, clear portrait of the Good Samaritan, and we understand it perfectly. Then we hear Jesus summarize the whole meaning of life by saying: "Go and do likewise." This is exactly what Moses was speaking about in the First Reading... For further reading, click here Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:07:21 +0200 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=653 http://www.vaticanfriends.com/network/rss.php?header=blogs&id=653 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10:25-37.    There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010For the other readings click here Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:07:45 +0200