Today is the feast day for Saints Peter and Paul. This is an interesting read about these two great apostles of Jesus Christ:
"St. Peter and St. Paul (1st c.) were the foremost Apostles of Jesus Christ; St. Peter was the leader of the Twelve, while St. Paul followed Christ after His ascension into heaven. Together the two saints are the founders of the Church in Rome through their apostolic preaching, ministry, and martyrdom in that city. They are the solid rock on which the foundation of the Catholic Church is built, and they will forever remain her protectors and guides. To them Rome owes her true greatness, for it was under God's providential guidance that they transformed the capital of the Roman Empire into the heart of the Church, with the mission to radiate the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world. Both saints were martyred in close proximity to one another; Peter first, then Paul, though some traditions claim they were killed on the same day. St. Peter was crucified upside down and buried on the hill of the Vatican where St. Peter's Basilica now stands. St. Paul was beheaded on the via Ostia and buried where the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls now stands. St. Peter and St. Paul are the patron saints of Rome and they share a feast day on June 29, a tradition going back to the earliest centuries of the Church."
My wife and I have wanted to visit Rome for some time but have not had the opportunity. Reading about these two great apostles and saints make me want to visit Rome even more. All the years I claimed to be a Christian I never drew on their prayer support (that is until I became a Catholic!). I always thought this verse "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16b) applies only to strong living Christians, e.g. elders of a church. Now I have learned two new ideas: (1) there are no more righteous persons than those who have already become saints; and they are always praying for us, even now! (see "The Intercession of the Saints"; (2) the context of the James 5:16 passage includes the role of confession: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.". Jesus has given us the living priests to whom I make my confession to not only "absorb" my sins, but also to pray for me.
Today I read this lovely hymn in the Liturgy of the Hour:
The eternal gifts of Christ the King,
The Apostles’ glory let us sing;
And all with hearts of gladness raise
Due hymns of thankful love and praise.
For they the Church’s princes are,
Triumphant leaders in the war,
In heavenly courts a warrior band,
True lights to lighten every land.
Theirs is the steadfast faith of saints,
And hope that never yields nor faints,
The love of Christ in perfect glow
That lays the prince of this world low.
In them the Father’s glory shone,
In them the will of God the Son,
In them exults the Holy Ghost,
Through them rejoice the heavenly host.
Oh thank God for all the angels and saints! With their intercession I make my journey home - to my heavenly Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Friday, 29 June 2018
Monday, 28 May 2018
If we receive good from the hand of God, why should we not also receive evil?
I spent the weekend in the hospital - first the ER then admitted to the 8/F West of the Hamilton General Hospital, which is the Clinical Teaching Unit for Internal Medicine patients. I was admitted because my cardiac enzymes doubled since admission. I was wearing a remote cardiac monitor to make sure I didn't go into arrhythmia. I just had a bicycle accident during which I fractured and dislocated 4 ribs, separated my left shoulder, and had a concussion which erased all my memories of the event and hours after. I received excellent care, with my dear wife by my side. My oldest daughter and her husband and my first grand son also came by to visit. I was sore but I felt that God was very good to me. I discharged myself after a repeated CT of my head showed that the small frontal lobe haemorrhage did not progress and my cardiac enzymes had returned to normal. I then went to the late Sunday evening mass.
I am now sitting by the window enjoying the beautiful view and breakfast. And this morning I read the scripture found in Job 2:
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. (Job 2:7-8)
The text went on to quote Job's wife in saying: "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" to which Job answered: "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?". Then the bible recorded possibly the longest dialog and debate between Job and his three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Elihu, which lasted from Jobs 3 to Jobs 37 before the Lord finally spoke in Jobs 38-39:
"Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me." (Jobs 38:2-3)
"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!" (Jobs 40:2)
To which Job replied:
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I will say no more.” (Jobs 40:4-5)
Then the Office of Readings quoted The Moral Reflections on Job by Pope St Gregory the Great:
I am now sitting by the window enjoying the beautiful view and breakfast. And this morning I read the scripture found in Job 2:
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. (Job 2:7-8)
The text went on to quote Job's wife in saying: "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" to which Job answered: "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?". Then the bible recorded possibly the longest dialog and debate between Job and his three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Elihu, which lasted from Jobs 3 to Jobs 37 before the Lord finally spoke in Jobs 38-39:
"Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me." (Jobs 38:2-3)
"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!" (Jobs 40:2)
To which Job replied:
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I will say no more.” (Jobs 40:4-5)
Then the Office of Readings quoted The Moral Reflections on Job by Pope St Gregory the Great:
"We should especially notice the skilful turn of reflection he uses when he gathers himself up to meet the persuading of his wife, when he says If we have received good at the hand of the Lord, shall we not receive evil? It is a great consolation to us if, when we suffer afflictions, we recall to remembrance our Maker’s gifts to us. Painful things will not depress us if we quickly remember also the gifts that we have been given. As Scripture says, In the day of prosperity do not forget affliction, and in the day of affliction, do not forget prosperity." He went on to say: "The two must be united so that each may always have the other’s support, so that both remembrance of the gift may moderate the pain of the blow and fear of the blow may moderate exuberance at receiving the gift. Thus the holy man, to soothe the depression of his mind amidst his wounds, weighs the sweetness of the gifts against the pains of affliction, saying If we have received good at the hand of the Lord, shall we not receive evil?"
I am always impressed with Job's attitude in life:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Jobs 1:21)
I am pondering whether I should attend a conference this weekend in Halifax, in which I am giving a workshop - "It is More Blessed to Give than to Receive". This event on the weekend has served to reinforce this attitude to life. May God protect me and give me the strength I need to share God's goodness with those who would attend the workshop!
Monday, 21 May 2018
Here is your mother
Yesterday we celebrated the feastday of Pentecost. The Catholic Church believes that this event represents the birth of the Christian Church. In today's scripture reading (Acts 1:12-14) it describes the period of 10 days after Jesus' ascension to heaven and before the coming of the Holy Spirit. In verse 14 it describes the wait: "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.". I have not noticed it before that Mary, the mother of Jesus was there in the upper room along with the apostles and the other disciples (women and men). The church has always held a very high regards for the central role Mary plays in the birth and nurturing of the early church.
In fact, the other scripture read today is the scene of Jesus on the cross (John 19:25-34) where Jesus not only asked His mother Mary to look after the disciple He loved (assumed to be the apostle John), representing the church (which He loved and for whom He died), but He also told the church to look after their mother - our Mother: "When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home."
Today, May 21, 2018, marks the first celebration of the Feast of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, instituted early this year by Pope Francis. The announcement came in a decree issued March 3, 2018, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments... “The joyous veneration given to the Mother of God by the contemporary Church, in light of reflection on the mystery of Christ and on his nature, cannot ignore the figure of a woman (cf. Gal 4:4), the Virgin Mary, who is both the Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.,” according to the decree. “This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God.”
I did not know my Blessed Mother that well for many many years living as a Christian. But now, I am becoming more and more acquainted with this amazing woman, who said YES to Jesus:
"Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
Because she said YES she became the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Saying the Rosary everyday reminds me of the central role Mary plays to bring my petition to God, through Jesus, who loves His Mother and wants us to do the same.
In fact, the other scripture read today is the scene of Jesus on the cross (John 19:25-34) where Jesus not only asked His mother Mary to look after the disciple He loved (assumed to be the apostle John), representing the church (which He loved and for whom He died), but He also told the church to look after their mother - our Mother: "When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home."
Today, May 21, 2018, marks the first celebration of the Feast of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, instituted early this year by Pope Francis. The announcement came in a decree issued March 3, 2018, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments... “The joyous veneration given to the Mother of God by the contemporary Church, in light of reflection on the mystery of Christ and on his nature, cannot ignore the figure of a woman (cf. Gal 4:4), the Virgin Mary, who is both the Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.,” according to the decree. “This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God.”
I did not know my Blessed Mother that well for many many years living as a Christian. But now, I am becoming more and more acquainted with this amazing woman, who said YES to Jesus:
"Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
Because she said YES she became the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Saying the Rosary everyday reminds me of the central role Mary plays to bring my petition to God, through Jesus, who loves His Mother and wants us to do the same.
Monday, 14 May 2018
Jesus' Presence
I had always been confused about this. When Jesus gave the great commission:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
He made a promise of His Divine Presence - but how are we to experience this?
Before I reverted back to my Catholic faith, I had always understood that Jesus meant that His Spirit would be with me. And then I was told that both the Holy Spirit and His spirit (but without His body) were with me. This was fine when I didn't appreciate that Jesus, and we humans, are both body and soul (and not body, spirit, and soul, as some Protestants also believe), and it's very important to understand that correctly. With the wrong understanding, I made the error of believing that my body was not that important once I am done with this life. So I had decided for cremation when I die. In fact I told my wife to scatter my ashes along Book Road in Ancaster (which is actually illegal to scatter human remains on public ground!), where I have always had a love for its beauty and peacefulness, every time I ride my bike on it (and I used to do my 20km training run on it during my Marathon days). So now instead of this my wife and I have recently decided to actually purchase a burial ground in this Catholic cemetery for a proper burial, in accordance to church teaching). The reason for treating my body with such dignity is that God created it lovingly and uniquely, along with my soul, and they are created in His image. And you know what, what God had created, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).
So at the end of time my body will be resurrected along with everyone else. My body will be reunited with my soul then, and face the final judgment (the first judgment, called the particular judgment, will take place immediately after my death - according to the Catholic teaching).
So I used to believe in getting a "glorified body" quite different from the one I have now. And now I believe I will get back my own body which God created in the beginning - minus all the imperfections as a consequence of sins, of course. It won't be a totally new body which I'd like to imagine to be: Einstein + Brad Pitt + Lance Armstrong!
But of course it will always be a mystery, "I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. " (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)
All this leads back to the homily I heard yesterday (it was the Feast of the Ascension). The scripture text was from Acts 1:1-11). "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." What are we to do without Jesus? His bodily presence is important to us! Well He sent His Holy Spirit (we will be celebrating the Pentecost next week!). But through baptism we can have access to his Divine Presence - body, blood, soul, and divinity (ccc 1374) through the Holy Eucharist of the Mass - every day if I want to. It is wonderful that Jesus instituted these amazing sacraments to help me experience His Presence, and to draw power and grace from them to go out to make disciples so that they too can be baptized and experience His bodily Presence, until the last day, when we shall spend eternity with Him - with my body and soul, of course!
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
He made a promise of His Divine Presence - but how are we to experience this?
Before I reverted back to my Catholic faith, I had always understood that Jesus meant that His Spirit would be with me. And then I was told that both the Holy Spirit and His spirit (but without His body) were with me. This was fine when I didn't appreciate that Jesus, and we humans, are both body and soul (and not body, spirit, and soul, as some Protestants also believe), and it's very important to understand that correctly. With the wrong understanding, I made the error of believing that my body was not that important once I am done with this life. So I had decided for cremation when I die. In fact I told my wife to scatter my ashes along Book Road in Ancaster (which is actually illegal to scatter human remains on public ground!), where I have always had a love for its beauty and peacefulness, every time I ride my bike on it (and I used to do my 20km training run on it during my Marathon days). So now instead of this my wife and I have recently decided to actually purchase a burial ground in this Catholic cemetery for a proper burial, in accordance to church teaching). The reason for treating my body with such dignity is that God created it lovingly and uniquely, along with my soul, and they are created in His image. And you know what, what God had created, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).
So at the end of time my body will be resurrected along with everyone else. My body will be reunited with my soul then, and face the final judgment (the first judgment, called the particular judgment, will take place immediately after my death - according to the Catholic teaching).
So I used to believe in getting a "glorified body" quite different from the one I have now. And now I believe I will get back my own body which God created in the beginning - minus all the imperfections as a consequence of sins, of course. It won't be a totally new body which I'd like to imagine to be: Einstein + Brad Pitt + Lance Armstrong!
But of course it will always be a mystery, "I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. " (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)
All this leads back to the homily I heard yesterday (it was the Feast of the Ascension). The scripture text was from Acts 1:1-11). "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." What are we to do without Jesus? His bodily presence is important to us! Well He sent His Holy Spirit (we will be celebrating the Pentecost next week!). But through baptism we can have access to his Divine Presence - body, blood, soul, and divinity (ccc 1374) through the Holy Eucharist of the Mass - every day if I want to. It is wonderful that Jesus instituted these amazing sacraments to help me experience His Presence, and to draw power and grace from them to go out to make disciples so that they too can be baptized and experience His bodily Presence, until the last day, when we shall spend eternity with Him - with my body and soul, of course!
Friday, 20 April 2018
Reflecting on "The Bread of Life" in "A Culture of Zapping"
"All of us, but especially the young, are immersed in a culture of zapping"
This is a quote from Pope Francis in his latest Apostolic Exhortation: GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE - ON THE CALL TO HOLINESS IN TODAY’S WORLD (point 167, page 35)
Father Marcus brought this quote to my attention yesterday in his homily. It really piqued my interest so I downloaded the Exhortation document above and I am more than half way through it. I also downloaded the Pope's other Apostolic Exhortations and am looking forward to reading them.
The scripture reading for yesterday's mass was on the "Jesus, the bread of life" discourse in John chapter 6.
"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”" (John 6:35)
Father Marcus pointed out that Jesus, through the apostle John, took an entire chapter in the Gospel to explain the mystery of the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. But in today's culture of zapping we may easily miss the significance of such a deep and powerful mystery that can empower our lives. Let me quote what Pope Francis has to say:
"167. The gift of discernment has become all the more necessary today, since contemporary life offers immense possibilities for action and distraction, and the world presents all of them as valid and good. All of us, but especially the young, are immersed in a culture of zapping. We can navigate simultaneously on two or more screens and interact at the same time with two or three virtual scenarios. Without the wisdom of discernment, we can easily become prey to every passing trend.
168. This is all the more important when some novelty presents itself in our lives. Then we have to decide whether it is new wine brought by God or an illusion created by the spirit of this world or the spirit of the devil. At other times, the opposite can happen, when the forces of evil induce us not to change, to leave things as they are, to opt for a rigid resistance to change. Yet that would be to block the working of the Spirit. We are free, with the freedom of Christ. Still, he asks us to examine what is within us – our desires, anxieties, fears and questions – and what takes place all around us – “the signs of the times” – and thus to recognize the paths that lead to complete freedom. “Test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thess 5:21)."
One of the reasons for my returning to the Catholic Church is the availability of the Sacraments. Having regular Holy Communion and Reconciliation has helped me grow in holiness. I thank Jesus for offering himself, body, blood, soul, and divinity in the holy sacrament of the altar during each daily mass.
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.'" (CCC 1323)
"“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”" (John 6:51).
This is a quote from Pope Francis in his latest Apostolic Exhortation: GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE - ON THE CALL TO HOLINESS IN TODAY’S WORLD (point 167, page 35)
Father Marcus brought this quote to my attention yesterday in his homily. It really piqued my interest so I downloaded the Exhortation document above and I am more than half way through it. I also downloaded the Pope's other Apostolic Exhortations and am looking forward to reading them.
The scripture reading for yesterday's mass was on the "Jesus, the bread of life" discourse in John chapter 6.
"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”" (John 6:35)
Father Marcus pointed out that Jesus, through the apostle John, took an entire chapter in the Gospel to explain the mystery of the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. But in today's culture of zapping we may easily miss the significance of such a deep and powerful mystery that can empower our lives. Let me quote what Pope Francis has to say:
"167. The gift of discernment has become all the more necessary today, since contemporary life offers immense possibilities for action and distraction, and the world presents all of them as valid and good. All of us, but especially the young, are immersed in a culture of zapping. We can navigate simultaneously on two or more screens and interact at the same time with two or three virtual scenarios. Without the wisdom of discernment, we can easily become prey to every passing trend.
168. This is all the more important when some novelty presents itself in our lives. Then we have to decide whether it is new wine brought by God or an illusion created by the spirit of this world or the spirit of the devil. At other times, the opposite can happen, when the forces of evil induce us not to change, to leave things as they are, to opt for a rigid resistance to change. Yet that would be to block the working of the Spirit. We are free, with the freedom of Christ. Still, he asks us to examine what is within us – our desires, anxieties, fears and questions – and what takes place all around us – “the signs of the times” – and thus to recognize the paths that lead to complete freedom. “Test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thess 5:21)."
One of the reasons for my returning to the Catholic Church is the availability of the Sacraments. Having regular Holy Communion and Reconciliation has helped me grow in holiness. I thank Jesus for offering himself, body, blood, soul, and divinity in the holy sacrament of the altar during each daily mass.
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.'" (CCC 1323)
"“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”" (John 6:51).
Friday, 13 April 2018
Glory Be... who was, and is, and is to come
The three prayers that I say many times throughout the day are the Lord's prayer, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. The Lord's prayer is straight from scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4). It is the prayer Jesus taught us. Hail Mary is also from scripture (Luke 1:28; John 1:14; and Luke 1:42). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (ccc 2676) "In Communion with the holy Mother of God" has this to say about the prayer:
Hail Mary [or Rejoice, Mary]: the greeting of the angel Gabriel opens this prayer. It is God himself who, through his angel as intermediary, greets Mary. Our prayer dares to take up this greeting to Mary with the regard God had for the lowliness of his humble servant and to exult in the joy he finds in her.
Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: These two phrases of the angel's greeting shed light on one another. Mary is full of grace because the Lord is with her. The grace with which she is filled is the presence of him who is the source of all grace. "Rejoice . . . O Daughter of Jerusalem . . . the Lord your God is in your midst." Mary, in whom the Lord himself has just made his dwelling, is the daughter of Zion in person, the ark of the covenant, the place where the glory of the Lord dwells. She is "the dwelling of God . . . with men." Full of grace, Mary is wholly given over to him who has come to dwell in her and whom she is about to give to the world.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. After the angel's greeting, we make Elizabeth's greeting our own. "Filled with the Holy Spirit," Elizabeth is the first in the long succession of generations who have called Mary "blessed." "Blessed is she who believed. . . . " Mary is "blessed among women" because she believed in the fulfillment of the Lord's word. Abraham. because of his faith, became a blessing for all the nations of the earth. Mary, because of her faith, became the mother of believers, through whom all nations of the earth receive him who is God's own blessing: Jesus, the "fruit of thy womb."
And then the Glory Be prayer. Where does it come from? Until this morning I had no clue. Then the scripture passage I read came to light. In Revelation 4 "Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
Hail Mary [or Rejoice, Mary]: the greeting of the angel Gabriel opens this prayer. It is God himself who, through his angel as intermediary, greets Mary. Our prayer dares to take up this greeting to Mary with the regard God had for the lowliness of his humble servant and to exult in the joy he finds in her.
Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: These two phrases of the angel's greeting shed light on one another. Mary is full of grace because the Lord is with her. The grace with which she is filled is the presence of him who is the source of all grace. "Rejoice . . . O Daughter of Jerusalem . . . the Lord your God is in your midst." Mary, in whom the Lord himself has just made his dwelling, is the daughter of Zion in person, the ark of the covenant, the place where the glory of the Lord dwells. She is "the dwelling of God . . . with men." Full of grace, Mary is wholly given over to him who has come to dwell in her and whom she is about to give to the world.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. After the angel's greeting, we make Elizabeth's greeting our own. "Filled with the Holy Spirit," Elizabeth is the first in the long succession of generations who have called Mary "blessed." "Blessed is she who believed. . . . " Mary is "blessed among women" because she believed in the fulfillment of the Lord's word. Abraham. because of his faith, became a blessing for all the nations of the earth. Mary, because of her faith, became the mother of believers, through whom all nations of the earth receive him who is God's own blessing: Jesus, the "fruit of thy womb."
And then the Glory Be prayer. Where does it come from? Until this morning I had no clue. Then the scripture passage I read came to light. In Revelation 4 "Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created and have their being.”" (Revelation 4:8-11)
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created and have their being.”" (Revelation 4:8-11)
Gloria Patri, as this prayer is also known, "is found in the books of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, 1Timothy, Hebrews, Peter and Revelations. St. Paul uses these
doxologies in almost every one of his epistles in some variation." (Catholic Answers)
"The dictionary defines doxology as “an expression of praise to God, especially a short hymn sung as part of a Christian worship service.” The word doxology comes from the Greek doxa, (“glory, splendor, grandeur”) and logos,
(“word” or “speaking”). Most doxologies are short hymns of praise to
God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of
canticles, psalms, and hymns." (GotQuestions.org). "The earliest examples are addressed to God the Father alone, or to Him through the Son and in or with the Holy Ghost. The form of baptism (Matthew 28:19) had set an example of naming the three Persons in parallel order. Especially in the fourth century, as a protest against Arian subordination (since heretics appealed to these prepositions..).. the custom of using the form: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost", became universal among Catholics. From this time we must distinguish two doxologies, a greater (doxologia maior) and a shorter (minor).
The greater doxology is the Gloria in Excelsis Deo in the Mass. The
shorter form, which is the one generally referred to under the name
"doxology", is the Gloria Patri. It is continued by an answer to the
effect that this glory shall last for ever." (slightly modified from the New Advent)
Glory Be is a quick prayer to remind me of the heaven I so long for. Like the four living creatures and the twenty four elders, I can now practice the joy of worshiping my heavenly Triune God in heaven, while I sojourn on my remaining days on this earth.
Friday, 16 March 2018
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts - a reflection on Psaml 24
Another Psalm I read quite frequently from reading the Liturgy of the Hours is Psalm 24 (or maybe this is true only through the Lent season). This Psalm is sometimes used to refute the Protestant teaching on Salvation by Faith Alone (Sola Fide). Dr. David Anders (a convert from Calvinism to Catholicism) from the EWTN program Called to Communion has this to say:
(Taken from comment 139 in "The Witness of the “Lost Christianities”")
That’s not what Scripture says:
Romans 2:13: “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13);
James 2:24: “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”
Romans 13:8: “whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”
1 John 3:7: “The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Psalm 24: 3: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.”
Catholic Answers has a good article on Faith and Works. The opening comment is important:
"“Protestants believe in faith alone, while Catholics believe in faith and works.” You hear both Protestants and Catholics say this all the time. But it’s a misleading oversimplification. If you tell a typical Evangelical, “You believe in faith alone, but we Catholics believe in faith and works,” you will cause him to think that the Catholic Church teaches something that, in fact, it says is false."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is rich in its teaching on Grace and Justification:
A few points taken from the In Brief section:
2017 The grace of the Holy Spirit confers upon us the righteousness of God. Uniting us by faith and Baptism to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, the Spirit makes us sharers in his life.
2018 Like conversion, justification has two aspects. Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, and so accepts forgiveness and righteousness from on high.
2020 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God's mercy.
2022 The divine initiative in the work of grace precedes, prepares, and elicits the free response of man. Grace responds to the deepest yearnings of human freedom, calls freedom to cooperate with it, and perfects freedom.
2024 Sanctifying grace makes us "pleasing to God." Charisms, special graces of the Holy Spirit, are oriented to sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. God also acts through many actual graces, to be distinguished from habitual grace which is permanent in us.
2025 We can have merit in God's sight only because of God's free plan to associate man with the work of his grace. Merit is to be ascribed in the first place to the grace of God, and secondly to man's collaboration. Man's merit is due to God.
2029 "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24).
The Psalm itself is quite easy to memorize (only 10 verses!). The most important reminder of living out our faith is found in verses 3 and 4, and the most beautiful call to worship is found in verses 7-10.
1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
(Taken from comment 139 in "The Witness of the “Lost Christianities”")
That’s not what Scripture says:
Romans 2:13: “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13);
James 2:24: “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”
Romans 13:8: “whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”
1 John 3:7: “The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Psalm 24: 3: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.”
Catholic Answers has a good article on Faith and Works. The opening comment is important:
"“Protestants believe in faith alone, while Catholics believe in faith and works.” You hear both Protestants and Catholics say this all the time. But it’s a misleading oversimplification. If you tell a typical Evangelical, “You believe in faith alone, but we Catholics believe in faith and works,” you will cause him to think that the Catholic Church teaches something that, in fact, it says is false."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is rich in its teaching on Grace and Justification:
A few points taken from the In Brief section:
2017 The grace of the Holy Spirit confers upon us the righteousness of God. Uniting us by faith and Baptism to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, the Spirit makes us sharers in his life.
2018 Like conversion, justification has two aspects. Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, and so accepts forgiveness and righteousness from on high.
2020 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God's mercy.
2022 The divine initiative in the work of grace precedes, prepares, and elicits the free response of man. Grace responds to the deepest yearnings of human freedom, calls freedom to cooperate with it, and perfects freedom.
2024 Sanctifying grace makes us "pleasing to God." Charisms, special graces of the Holy Spirit, are oriented to sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. God also acts through many actual graces, to be distinguished from habitual grace which is permanent in us.
2025 We can have merit in God's sight only because of God's free plan to associate man with the work of his grace. Merit is to be ascribed in the first place to the grace of God, and secondly to man's collaboration. Man's merit is due to God.
2029 "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24).
The Psalm itself is quite easy to memorize (only 10 verses!). The most important reminder of living out our faith is found in verses 3 and 4, and the most beautiful call to worship is found in verses 7-10.
1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
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