Love’s redeeming work is done

This Easter is like no other. Because of the COVID-19 locked down there had been no Easter Church Services. Because of the "social distancing" restriction my family did not have the traditional Easter celebration either. We were limited to a Jitsi video conference. It worked out well given the circumstance, but it was not the same as having everyone in our home.

Since Eastertide (the 50 days after Triduum - the three days from the evening of Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday), I have been reading/singing this particular hymn nearly everyday:

Love’s redeeming work is done,

fought the fight, the battle won.

Lo, our Sun’s eclipse is o’er!

Lo, he sets in blood no more!

 

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal!

Christ has burst the gates of hell;

death in vain forbids him rise;

Christ has opened paradise.

 

Lives again our victor King;

where, O death, is now thy sting?

Dying once, he all doth save;

where thy victory, O grave?

 

Soar we now where Christ has led,

following our exalted Head;

made like him, like him we rise,

ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

 

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!

Praise to thee by both be given:

thee we greet triumphant now;

hail, the Resurrection thou!

 

Love's redeeming work is done - Charles Wesley (1707-1788) t. Savannah - Herrnhut c 1740

Video by The Choir of St. Edmunsbury Cathedral (all verses)

Or a modern rendition by High Street Hymns https://youtu.be/qzmjFmXZVo8

Despite the doom and gloom of the state of our world, it is really important to be reminded of the significance of Easter and its message to the world. It is a custom among Christians to greet each other on Easter Sunday "He is risen" and the response "He is risen, indeed" (known as the “Paschal greeting”). GotQuestions.org has this to say:

"Using this address should be more than an empty tradition. The words “He is risen!” remind us of the joyous news we celebrate at Easter, that Jesus’ death was not in vain, and that He has the power to overcome death. Saying “He is risen!” allows us to share this incredible truth with each other. The resurrection of Christ gives us hope for salvation and for our own resurrection and eternal life."

In the above hymn, the fourth stanza speaks to me the most, especially through this difficult time:

Soar we now where Christ has led,

following our exalted Head;

made like him, like him we rise,

ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

So I pray each day for a Good and Holy death (see The Divine Gift of “Shalom” in a Good Death). Here is God's promise to a righteous man Abraham, made possible by the death of my Lord Jesus Christ, who declared "Love’s redeeming work is done" (at 3pm everyday, my watch sends me an alarm to remind me of what Jesus said on the cross at that time "It is Finished!"):

"As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age."
(Genesis 15:15 NRSVCE)

Bishop of Rome

Today is the feast day of Saint Mark. I must say I know very little about him. This is the write up about him that I read this morning:
"St. Mark the Evangelist (1st c.) was born to Jewish parents living in Libya in North Africa, later settling in Cana of Galilee not far from Jerusalem. Mark became one of the 70 disciples of Jesus and the author of the Gospel that bears his name. According to tradition, St. Peter the Apostle was married to a relative of St. Mark's father, and after Mark's father died, Peter looked after him like his own son. Being a close disciple of St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, Mark's Gospel is addressed to Gentile converts to the Christian faith living in Rome. Most of what we know about his life and missionary activity is recorded in the New Testament. He traveled to Egypt and founded the Church there, and was martyred c. 68 A.D. by being dragged through the streets of Alexandria until his body was torn to pieces. St. Mark is the patron of lawyers and prisoners. His feast day is April 25."

Today's scripture reading is taken from  1 Peter 5:5-14 and Mark 16:15-20. Along with the selected verses in the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17) the theme is very clear: we have been given the Great Commission:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

We have been given the divine promise of God's presence (Matthew 28:18-20) and His power over our earthly and spiritual enemies.

The relationship between Saint Peter and Saint Mark is interesting. He admonished the young church in 1 Peter 5:5,

"you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
“God opposes the proud,
    but gives grace to the humble.”


Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time."

It's easy to question authority, especially when there are scandals among the hierarchy in the church. The Pope, who is the "Bishop of Rome" has been given divine authority by Jesus through the first Pope Saint Peter:
"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
 (Matthew 16:17-19)

Sure we have anxiety. We are anxious that our beloved church will conform to the relativistic culture. But Jesus has promised, "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

There will be fierce opposition. But we are called to be disciplined and remain steadfast in our faith:
"Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:8-10)


And finally, an interesting bible trivia. In 1 Peter 5:13, Saint Peter wrote,
"Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark."
Who is "The chosen one at Babylon"?
I found this Catholic teaching which helps me the most:
"Peter's presence in Rome is indicated in his first letter. The name "Babylon" is used here as a cryptic name for the city of Rome, a characteristic of writings done during times of persecution. During Peter's time (witnessed by his own martyrdom) and most New Testament times (witness the Book of Revelation--classic persecution literature), Rome took on the characteristics of the most outstanding example of a world power hostile to God--ancient Babylon. "

I think the Vatican, the chosen one at Babylon, is in no less persecution than in throughout history, but particularly in more recent time. It's not the kind of persecution when God's people were fed to the lions, but the infiltration of God's enemies into our church has attempted to destroy the church from within. We must heed Saint Peter's words afresh. To be disciplined and remain steadfast in our faith.

Additional reading:
Was Peter the First Pope?
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/apologia/firstpope2.html

Pope Fiction: Answers to Five Myths and Misconceptions About the Papacy
https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/apologetics/pope-fiction-answers-to-five-myths-and-misconceptions-about-the-papacy.html

Christ in You the Hope of Glory

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday - the 8th day after Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead. I was particularly blessed by today's Office of Readings. Psalm 2:1-3 asks a very relevant question during this cultural war our Holy Church is faced with:
"Why do the nations conspire,
    and the peoples plot in vain? 
 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying, 
 “Let us burst their bonds asunder,    and cast their cords from us.”"

What is the reason for the "culture of death" (i.e. rampant abortion and euthanasia) and the "gender confusion" (the LGBTQIA...)? It says in verse 3 that "the peoples", including those in high places, are rebelling against God's truth which are "bonds" and "cords" against their freedom to do whatever they want. That's why there is such a strong push back against the church and church's teaching, especially widespread in the western civilization. The push for social justice and equality appears to be a good thing but underneath it all is a desire to be free but without responsibility. The foundation of western civilization has been based on the influence of Judo-Christian teaching. Now they want to abolish it. What is to come of our world?

In Psalm 2:4-6 God says,
"He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision. 
 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying, 
 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”"

What does the COVID-19 pandemic and Easter teach us? God is in charge and He reminds us what is needed, once again - salvation through Jesus and Him alone!
In Psalm 2:7-9,
"I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you. 
 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession. 
 You shall break them with a rod of iron,    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”"

And Psalm 2:10-12 concludes,
"Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth. 
 Serve the Lord with fear,
    with trembling kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him."

The title of today's post "Christ in You the Hope of Glory" is taken from Colossians 1:27,
"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

First of all - it is a mystery, but it's a glorious mystery! From the reading of Colossians 3:1-17 and the sermon by Saint Augustine "A new creation in Christ", I learn several lessons:

(1) Through baptism I am born again and have been given a gift which is the church: "I speak to you who have just been reborn in baptism, my little children in Christ, you who are the new offspring of the Church, gift of the Father, proof of Mother Church’s fruitfulness.". Anyone who says baptism is only symbolic and is optional is not telling the truth!

(2) Also through baptism "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:19-20) and "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,  for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-2). Baptism did more than washing away my sin, it changed me from the inside where Christ chooses to dwell, and through Him I live the resurrected life.

(3) The new "code of conduct" (Colossians 3:5, 8-9, 12-14, 15-17) is a prescription for me to live a happy life: "Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)... But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony... and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.". No amount of early success, power and fame, short term enjoyment will bring true and lasting happiness.

(4) Let God do His work in us... "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom". So we are equipped to be witnesses to a fallen world.

(5) Look forward to the Hope of Glory! "When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4), and Saint Augustine said, "And so your own hope of resurrection, though not yet realised, is sure and certain, because you have received the sacrament or sign of this reality, and have been given the pledge of the Spirit. If, then, you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your hearts on heavenly things, not the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, appears, then you too will appear with him in glory."

Lastly, Saint Augustine provided evidence of a definite link between Baptism in the New Testament and Circumcision in the Old Testament:

"This is the octave (8th) day of your new birth (those baptized on Easter Sunday). Today is fulfilled in you the sign of faith that was prefigured in the Old Testament by the circumcision of the flesh on the eighth day after birth" 

 

So let us pray:

God of eternal compassion,

  each Easter you rekindle the faith of your consecrated people.

Give them still greater grace, so that all may truly understand

  the waters in which they were cleansed,

  the Spirit by which they were reborn,

  the blood by which they were redeemed.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

  one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Let us praise the Lord.

– Thanks be to God.

Silent Retreat

I have never been to a three day silent retreat. I may have been to a half day retreat a long time ago. I had no idea what I was doing and I never did another one again.

I have registered to this men's retreat at Cedarcrest Conference Center at the end of this month. This is an outgrowth of my commitment to the Exodus 90 Spiritual Exercise for Men. I was assigned to an Anchor who helped direct me to making two important decisions: (1) Finding a Spiritual Director, and (2) Attending this silent retreat. The group of men who form our local Exodus 90 group have committed to help each other grow spiritually during this 90 days before Easter - a really extended and more intense Lent. I offered my 90 days for the salvation of my family members. I am already benefiting from this exercise and I look forward to even greater benefit for my inner life.

During today's one-on-one meeting with my anchor, he helped me start preparing for this retreat. I am to start writing down daily what I want to get out of this retreat, specific items for prayers, and concrete resolutions. He told me to make sure I book time with the priest at the retreat as soon as I arrive - to make sure I have at least one, or better, two meeting times with him. These meetings will serve as spiritual direction as well as confession. He suggested I should make a general confession again. Finally he offered to go for walks with me to chat over things during the free time (when we can talk!).

Regarding a Spiritual Director, I will be meeting a parish priest early next month. The trick is to schedule regular meetings at least one month before. I hope to be able to meet with my anchor as sort of another spiritual director beyond Easter - monthly, in between my monthly meetings with my Spiritual Director.

In terms of Spiritual Gleaning, I have not neglected the discipline but I have had some difficulty finding dedicated time to sit down to write. I will just say two things I recently learned and that I have already made good use of this new insight to help myself and others.

The first one came to me as I have been trying to understand the concept of the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments. I am trying to practice a better Examination of Conscience daily. One simple way is to simply think about a couple of things that were good and a couple of things that were bad during the course of the day. This has worked better than to go through a formal list of self reflections on the Ten Commandments or the Seven Deadly Sins. Anyway, I have not been satisfied with my lack of appreciation of why God made Observing Sabbath as one of the Ten Commandments (3rd commandment in the Christian tradition but fourth in the Jewish tradition). The commandment and the question to ask myself is this:
Third Commandment: “Keep holy the Sabbath Day.”
"Have I, through my own fault, failed to come to Mass each Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation? Do I arrive at Mass late or leave early without good reason? Do I allow myself to be distracted at Mass?"
I would give myself an easy pass if I simply answer the above question. But the commandment must go deeper than that. What does "Keep Holy" mean? How would I make the activities of that day clearly consecrated to God.

Well one of the many things I learned from Dennis Prager's video "The Ten Commandments - What You Should Know?" (I bought his book "The Ten Commandments: Still the Best Moral Code" too - looking forward to reading it in great details) and reading his commentary on the Book of Exodus "The Rational Bible: Exodus" on the Ten Commandments (Exodus chapter 20) is how God introduced it to us: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;" (Exodus 20:2) This statement is so important that the Jews called it the First Commandment (that's why the Sabbath is their Fourth Commandment and not the Third!). It is important for me to know that I have been a slave and despite being freed from my previous bondage I still have a tendency to want to go back to slavery (as the Jews did in the desert). Sabbath is a revolutionary idea if your were a slave in Egypt. A day which I can set aside without the responsibility to obey my task master is a revolutionary idea! Anyways I can go on but this blog will be too long.

The second thing I learned recently is from the familiar Psalm 23. I never quite understood what this verse meant: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." - until I understood the communion table as described in John 13. I have been affected in many ways of what has been happening in our culture and even within the church. But this Last Supper taught me and prepared me before the battle - see how the Son of God, knowing that of the twelve disciples - Judas would betray Him, Peter would denied Him three times, and nine others would dessert Him (only the apostle John would stay with Him at the cross with His mother), he then showed them how the battle is won - He washed His disciples' feet!! Enough said!

Oh there are so many things to learn. I look forward to the silent retreat and come back with many more spiritual insights and strength to face the world and the devil who is running rampant right now!

What does Peace Look Like? Two Signs and the Amazon Synod

Today's homily by Father Lobsinger takes a fresh look at the scripture passage in Zechariah 8:1-8. The background history is that the Jewish people had been in exile in Babylon for 70 years and in an amazing demonstration of God's providence, they were allowed (and even financially supported by their captor!) to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Now this new generation of Israelites were born and raised in captivity and didn't know what Jerusalem meant to them and not all the people are as enthusiastic about traveling so far to do what appeared to be an impossible job. But,
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts?" (verse 6)

The Lord of hosts promised two signs:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age." (verse 4)
"And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets." (verse 5)

and the Lord of hosts further promised:  "I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness." (verses 7 & 8)

The promise of peace in the midst of turmoils and uncertainties is simply this:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain." (verses 2&3)

Our God is a jealous God and He has promised to dwell in our midst!

The Message translation says it this way:
"A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“I am zealous for Zion—I care!
    I’m angry about Zion—I’m involved!”

“I’ve come back to Zion,
    I’ve moved back to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem’s new names will be Truth City,
    and Mountain of God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
    and Mount Holiness.”"

Today's message is a much needed message for me as I have been struggling with understanding God's purpose for the upcoming Amazon Synod. This article "Lay Faithful to Gather in Rome to Pray for the Church on Eve of Amazon Synod" described the grave concern for faithful Catholics. My wife and I have been praying the 54 day novena along with some 50,000 Catholics about this. These are the main prayer requests:

"We, a group of Catholic friends, both lay and consecrated, therefore want to pray — together with all those who wish to join us — as close as possible to the tomb of St. Peter, where the popes, with few exceptions, have always desired to reside. We are asking God for these graces:

1. that the sexual and financial scandals that disfigure the face of the Church stop, and that the clergy who are involved in these scandals not be promoted to leadership positions but, on the contrary, be removed and invited to repentance;
2. that the depositum fidei [deposit of faith] — of which no one in Christ’s Church, not even the Pope, is master —not be adulterated;
3. that religious families, bishops, priests, and professors who are faithful to Christ and the Church no longer be taken over [commissariati], persecuted, or dismissed without concrete and verified accusations, for the sole reason of their attachment to the “faith of all time”;
4. that the Church’s hierarchy be courageous in preaching the Gospel and hold up her saints as an example to the faithful —not those who have divided and lacerated the Church (like the monk Martin Luther, in times past), or those who fight against life on a daily basis by supporting abortion, free drugs, and euthanasia … (like Emma Bonino, in times present);
5. that the priority of those who lead the Church be to proclaim the faith in Jesus Christ the Savior, leaving to “Caesar what is Caesar’s,” and that they avoid acting like sociologists, political scientists, climatologists... and “logists” of every kind;
6. that the men of the Church cease not to proclaim the “non-negotiable principles,” in particular the defense of life and the family, and that they come to terms with the culture of death and gender ideology;
7. that love for Creation no longer be confused with pagan and pantheistic ecology, nor the “mercy” of God with moral relativism and religious indifferentism;
8. that we listen to the cry coming from the African church (“May the West not deceive our young people with false myths and false promises!”) and the churches of Eastern Europe which repeat, with John Paul II, that “one’s country is also a mother for each person, in a very true way” and that the “defense of one’s own identity” has nothing to do with nationalism or other aberrations;
9. that Chinese Catholics not be sacrificed to the Communist dictatorial regime in the name of impossible and unjust agreements, as Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun has repeatedly denounced;
10. that persecuted Christians throughout the world, who face torture and death for the sake of Christ, no longer hear from Rome that Allah and Jesus Christ are the “same God.”"

God wills the diversity of religions?

In this article "Pope Francis signs peace declaration on ‘Human Fraternity’ with Grand Imam" it discusses the signed document entitled “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” in which it states:
“The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings...”
It further explains that "This statement must be read in the proper context and perspective, said Dr Chad Pecknold, associate professor of systematic theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.... God wills that all men come to know Him through the free choice of their will, and so it follows that a diversity of religions can be spoken about as permissively willed by God without denying the supernatural good of one true religion..."

My wife and I regularly watch Dr. Taylor Marshall's podcasts. Like us Dr. Marshall is a convert to Catholicism and has been very helpful in explaining our faith, in particular, his New St. Thomas Institute is a wealth of practical and helpful theological explanation of the Catholic faith. He did this  podcast entitled "212: Pope Francis: Does God Will Many Religions? Cardinal Müller Responds" on this particular issue.

The reason I got onto this topic is that the scripture passage this morning from 1 Timothy 2:1-8 contains these verses (3&4) according to the translation used by the USCCB:
"This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth."

I then read a couple of other translations:
(NRSVCE) "This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
(NIV) "This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
According to the original text (MOUNCE) the Greek word used is "thelō" which, according to the Strong's Lexicon (G2309) can be translated in various ways in the many appearances in scripture:

•     to will, have in mind, intend
•         to be resolved or determined, to purpose
•         to desire, to wish
•         to love
•             to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
•         to take delight in, have pleasure

USCCB makes reference to 2 Timothy 3:7 and 2 Peter 3:9. I was particularly impressed with the reference in 2 Peter 3:9:
"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. "

So 1 Timothy 2:4 does not really address the plurality of religion. And the word "Will" can be used in various ways throughout scripture and is not necessarily the "Permissive Will" of God.

The basic premise of salvation to me is still, according to John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
and Romans 5:8,
"But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. "
that God loves everyone and gave up His Son Jesus to die on the cross as an atonement for our sins. But it is still up to each one of us to accept this sacrifice to have eternal life instead of "perishing".
But in John 14:6,
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
the Christian churches (especially the Catholic church) is still the best way to find our way to salvation.

I weep because you do not weep.

Wow it's been 3 months since my last post! Found myself a free morning and I had just heard a wonderful homily at Mass this morning. Our new priest Father Lobsinger spoke on Colossians 1:24 - 2:3. He spoke of Saint John Vianney, who was known to spend hours hearing confessions and was commonly seen weeping as he listened to confessants. When asked why he wept, he gave this answer which became a famous quote: “I weep because you do not weep.”

I found this article "The Secrets of His Holiness - A Lesson in Sanctity for All of Us" about this saint:
"In confessing people, this holy man, who had a fundamental knowledge of sin, strove after one thing only—to save souls. This was his ardent desire, and for the sake of it he suffered all the tortures of his daylong confinement in the confessional. This great saint heard confessions from 13 to 17 hours a day, and could tell a penitent’s sins even when they were withheld. In order to save souls, one must be possessed of that holy love of men which consumed the priest of Ars. He would often weep in the confessional and when he was asked why he wept, he would reply: “My friend, I weep because you do not weep.”"

This story in some way fits today's Bible verse in Colossians 1:24 "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.".

This verse is problematic for many people, especially the evangelicals. Christ's suffering (and death on the cross) is sufficient to make atonement for our sins. What is still lacking, and Christ cannot do it for us, is our reparation for our sins. Reparation is necessary to prepare us to one day meet the perfect and holy God, as we shall see Him as He is.

"Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:1-3)

And we purify ourselves by suffering - it's a gift from God to prepare us for that Blessed day...

"...You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." (Revelation 3:17b-18)

"You do not realize"... Yes even when I confess my sin to a priest, do I have perfect contrition? Do I make a firm commitment to never to sin again? I try to do an "Examination of Conscience" every day. It often does not produce the kind of contrition I should have. A holy priest like St. John Vianney would easily pick this up and would cry for me... Oh pray for me St. John Vianney!

The other famous verse in today's reading is Colossians 1:27 which is "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This verse was the conference theme of Camp Trent (I think it was in 1977 at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario), which was "Christ in You, the Hope of Glory". I remember my faith took a giant step forward at this conference. But it still took many more years before I truly understood what this verse really meant. What is "Christ in You, the Hope of Glory"?

Now I understand that it is referring to the Holy Eucharist! The mystery of the transubstantiation which is Jesus' gift to His Church, His body. "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (John 6:53).

It is not easily understood...that's why "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?”" (John 6:60)

Contrition... confession... consecration... consumption of His Body and Blood... all found in the Mass this morning. That's why the Holy Mass is "the source and summit of the Christian life" and I was there this morning! Bless the Lord!