Two commandments and leaving idols: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Two laws

·      “…a scholar of the law tested [Jesus] by asking,  "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"  He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

These two commandments

·      Big picture…the forest…the map…the journey

·      Love God

o   God loves us: “God is love…”

o   How do we show God our love?

§  #1: Is God #1 in your life?

§  Students and their list

o   Do we talk to God?

§  How do we talk to others?

§  How do we talk to God?

o   Worship, honor,

·      How do you love your neighbor?

o   Service

And here is a third law as the Thessalonians received from St. Paul:

·      Thessalonians: “…and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven.”

·      Idols

o   How can you refocus from idols to God?

o   Yourself?  Pride?  Gossiping?  Judging?

o   Your stuff?  Money?  Power?  Lust?  Popularity?  Power?

Love God, love your neighbor, and focus back to God beyond stuff

·      You are not in control…but God does

Parish Bulletin Article: "Purgatory": 10-29-17

            As life continues to move forward quickly, we will soon begin November.  While this month changes many seasons like sports, hunting and weather, we should also have a particular focus for our prayers: those who have passed away. 

Do you know that in our history—and even today—our Church offers devotions and prayers throughout November?  We do so as “a month for the holy souls in purgatory.” 

            Well, what is purgatory? 

Here is one thought that I have used to think about purgatory.  Imagine then, how often children play outside.  Think about when you were a kid, or how your children have done so.  Remember when the little ones jumped in the puddles, played in a sandbox, dove in some mud or grass.

Now imagine that Mom and Dad called the children to come back inside because dinner is ready.  Now as the little ones come inside, would not Mom and/or Dad remind them to take off their boots, wash their hands, change clothes or take a shower?

This thought has helped me learn about purgatory—a cleansing to be ready for the feast in heaven.

Beyond this though, here is a more in-depth explanation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church for purgatory:

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.  The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.  The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent.  The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire…” (Chapters 1030-1031).

            During November we will offer a book in which you can share the names of your loved ones during November.  We will also pray for loved ones in each Mass we offer—which we do in every Mass.

We also have two crucial liturgical days to begin November.  First, we will have the “Solemnity of All Saints” (which is a holy day of obligation), and we will have three Masses: one on the vigil (October 31st) and two on Wednesday, November 1st.  Second, “The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)” and this is the only day in the year in which I should have three Masses and can wear a black chasuble.  We will have three Masses on Thursday, November 2nd.  Please come to these Masses and note the times and places in our bulletin.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.”

God Bless.

           

             

Work of faith and labor of love: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians (the first written for the New Testament)

·      As I read this passage, I imagined about the church in Thessalonica, and its leaders (Paul, Silvanus and Timothy)

·      Then I again read the passage and I would like to mention what I believe in you—our parishioners—our brothers and sisters

o   “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love…”

Our family is amazing in working of faith and laboring with love

·      All of you parents with children: that is laboring with love

·      We have many connections with Backus, our neighbor: leaders, volunteers, employees and several parishioners labor with love for our community

o   Community Café

o   Ruby’s Pantry

o   The new playground (Green Acres) with Backus, our Fire Chief (grilling the hot dogs), Mayor, commissioners, our school—teachers, principal, students and parents

·      As we had family lunch on Wednesday in the Hall, and down the next room we had the Clothes Closet: more laboring with love

·      Servants of Shelter: laboring with love

·      Serving at Mass: servers, sacristans, cleaning, musicians, lectors, ushers: laboring with love

·      Visiting loved ones in homes, assisted homes, nursing homes, the hospital with time, presence and the Eucharist: laboring with love

So brothers and sisters:

·      Follow “…endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.”

·      Keep continue to serve!

·      Endure our journey with hope!

·      God has chosen each of you with a mission in your life, and in the movements in our family

So once again, as your pastor and your brother, I “…give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in [my] prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love…”

Parish Bulletin Article: "Students' Memorized Prayers": 10-22-17

            Here are some brilliant students at St. Thomas Aquinas School.

            One kindergartener used my microphone to show everyone in our School Mass for the “Angel of God” several weeks ago: 

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God's love
commits me here,
Ever this day,
be at my side,
To light and guard,
Rule and guide.

Amen.

            I have not memorized this one…have you?           

Then two weeks later I visited the third and fourth graders with my candy basket.  (Each week they receive candy if they either work together or memorize a verse from the Bible).  And here is what they said as they were learning this daily prayer at school:

Students’ Prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas 

Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

            I have definitely not memorized this one…can you?

            As they received a wonderful gift through candy at school, I also give them another gift in my bulletin article: congratulations to our excellent students!

If any of you parishioners (or me) can show the memorization of either of these prayers, you too can have some candy.  Good luck!

            God Bless!

            

Both martyrs and more from St. Paul: Thursday, October 19th, 2017

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Faith

Justified

Grace

“Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles…”

St. Luke with our school students: Wednesday, October 18th, 2017

Listen to the homily here.

Thoughts from the first reading and the Gospel: Tuesday, October 17th, 2017

Listen to the homily here.

St. Paul's Introduction to the Romans: Monday, October 16th, 2017

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Romans

·      Thickest writing from St. Paul

·      Theology manifestation

First few verses

·      Slave

·      Apostle = sent

·      Obedience of faith

·      Holy

·      Grace to you

Do you come to THE wedding?: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Vineyard to a wedding

Let’s start with Jesus

·      "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” 

o   King—God the Father

o   The wedding for His Son—Jesus Christ

·      “He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,

·      Today, how do people invite others to a wedding?

o   Facebook, remember the date card, RSVPs, emails

·      And drama in inviting to weddings

o   Now imagine one of your favorite person on earth today and you receive an invitation to their party

o   Would you not make it?

Flip the other side

·      Imagine an important person in your life would invite you to something

o   I will pick Bishop Robert Barron or Pope Francis

o   I’ll make the rules

o   I would find a way to make it!

“…but they refused to come.”

·      They refused to: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."'

o   Or in Isaiah: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.”

·      Then instead of just not coming to the feast, they persecuted and slaughtered the servers

o   Would you do that with your imagination of your favorite person?

·      “The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.”

o   Remember, this is a parable

o   Literal

o   Allegory or metaphor

o   In one way, Jesus is using exaggeration to wake people up

·      “'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.  Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find…”

o   Everyone

Last week I spoke about work, action and produce

This weekend we are called to celebrate with God in the feast of our King

·      So what is Isaiah pointing to the future with “a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines”?  Jesus Christ

·      And what was Jesus Christ pointing in this parable?

o   On earth: His Body and Blood…the Eucharist

o   In heaven: the eternity feast in heaven

Again, the wedding?

·      Jesus Christ was sent to the world to “marry” each of us both on earth and in heaven

This weekend we are to be invited to God’s wedding?

·      Are you coming?

·      If yes or no on earth, will you be invited to eternity?

Parish Bulletin Article: "Wish List": 10-15-17

St. Thomas Aquinas Church:

·      #1 both a handicap door opener and a keypad $4000-5000

St. Thomas Aquinas School

·      #1 we can always use tuition to support more students to come

·      Tuition for one student = $2,150 (parishioners)/3,150

St. Columban

·      #1 gifts to support their future cost to their water and gas through several of their roads within Littlefork

St. Thomas Aquinas:

·      Baptismal Font: $5,9000 + shipping

·      UCA: $21,270 with our goal for 2017

·      A “new project” to support with a public sign for our parish and school in International Falls

·      A new speaker system to support more parishioners to hear and listen well in each spot

St. Thomas Aquinas School

·      Dry Erase Boards with Magnetic Porcelain: cost is $520 and the class rooms could be use six total ($3,120)

·      SMART Board for our preschool classroom: cost is between $2,000-5,000

·      New Kitchen: KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen: cost is $139.99

·      Puppet Show Display: CP Toys Kid-sized Hardwood Puppet Theater with Chalkboard: cost is $130.95

·      A classroom rug in the computer room: cost is $379.00

·      Additional eights desks: cost is $325 x 8 = $2600

Our Lady of Fatima: Talk after Mass on Friday, October 13th, 2017

Notes:

Awesome book!

1917 in Portugal

·      Apparition with an angel

o   Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta continued to practice what the Angel had taught them, praying and offering sacrifices to the Lord.

·      Then with Mother Mary

o   May, June, July, August (19^th), September, October

o   Apparition = “An apparition, however, is a charismatic gift granted by God for some greater purpose of His than the benefit of the one receiving it.  It says nothing necessary about the sanctity of the recipient(s); although God usually chooses simple and good Christians…”

o   Just before: May 5^th, Pope Benedict XV “had made a direct appeal to Mary to intercede in ending the Great War…”

o   Few are supported by our Catholic Church

§  Lourdes (France), Guadalupe (Mexico), Knock (Ireland), Fatima (Portugal)

Our Lady of the Rosary: title

·      Diocese of Duluth patroness

Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta

·      World War I

·      Rosary

·      Russia

John Paul II

·      Mystic = a person who having persevered in the Christian spiritual life, usually a notable length of time, receives by God's free choice the infused supernatural grace of contemplative prayer

·      Apostolic motto: Totus Tuus = “totally yours” = Mary à God

·      Shot on March 13^th, 1981 at 5:13pm

·      He put the bullet in a statue of Mother’s crown

Communism

·      = “a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs”

·      Marx quote: “Religion is the opium of the people”

·      Mother Mary going against Russia à communism

·      No God…the state is the god

·      Abortion and divorce

Many popes had challenged communism

·      Leo XIII, Pius XI, Pius XII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI

·      John Paul II

o   Lived against nazism then communism in Poland

o   War against them, not with guns, but through spiritual lives

Today?

·      Who is really in charge?  Our president?  Our government?  Our economy?  Nope…God

·      Is religion an opium?  What about real opium…opiates today, alcohol, drugs, pornography?

·      Religion (St. Thomas Aquinas through New Advent) = Religion in its simplest form implies the notion of being bound to God; the same notion is uppermost in the word religion in its most specific sense, as applied to the life of poverty, chastity, and obedience to which individuals voluntarily bind themselves by vows more or less solemn. Hence those who are thus bound are known as religious.

·      Private vs. public

·      Up or down?

·      Rosary

Eucharistic Adoration with a procession