From: Matthew 8:5-17
The Centurion's Faith
[5] As He (Jesus) entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, beseeching Him [6] and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." [7] And He said to him, "I will come and heal him." [8] But the centurion answered Him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it." [10] When Jesus heard him, He marvelled, and said to those who followed Him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." [13] And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
A Number of Cures
[14] And when Jesus entered Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick with fever; [15] He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served Him. [16] That evening they brought to Him many who were possessed with demons; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."
___________________
Commentary:
5-11. "Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his faith: Lord, I am not worthy...".
The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile's house as contracting legal impurity (cf. John 19:28; Acts 11:2-3). This centurion has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of His fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has the power over disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, He will do what is needed without having actually to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that His Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow Christ.
14-15. After his body--or soul--is healed, everyone is called to "rise up" from his previous position, to serve Jesus Christ. No laments, no delays; instead one should make oneself immediately available to the Lord.
16-17. The expulsion of evil spirits is one of the main signs of the establishment of the Kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 12:8). Similarly, the healing of diseases, which ultimately are the result of sin, is one of the signs of the "works of the Messiah" proclaimed by the prophets (cf. Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Friday, June 30, 2006
AAADD
Before I leave for the weekend I thought I would share this those who might appreciate it. I received this via email, and it sounds as if someone has chronicled a day in my life.
AAADD (Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder)
This is how Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder manifests itself:
I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.
As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.
I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on h kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water
there is still only one check in my check book
I can't find the remote
I can't find my glasses
I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first 'll check my e-mail.
Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!
Growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional.
Trinity Communications Purchases Catholic World News
A Email NewsFlash:
Hello! This message is from Peter Mirus, Vice President of TrinityThought I would pass on this information...If you don't have a subscription, you should consider getting one. It's well worth the money!
Communications, and Phil Lawler, Editor of Catholic World News.
The past month has brought exciting changes to Catholic World News (CWN). Please read about these changes below, and make sure to take advantage of our discount subscription offer!
Catholic World News Purchased
Effective June 1, Trinity Communications has purchased the Catholic World News web site from Domus Enterprises, the company set up by Phil Lawler, which established CWN in 1996.
What does this mean for subscribers? It does not mean a change in editorial direction. (In fact, although the change took effect nearly a month ago, we're guessing that most readers haven't noticed!) CWN will continue to provide reliable news, independent analysis, and hard-hitting commentary. What the new ownership does mean is that the best is yet to come.
Trinity Communications and Domus Enterprises have worked together for years. Trinity has provided web-hosting services, programming and design for CWN since its earliest days, and is thoroughly familiar with every aspect of the CWNews.com web site. Now we look forward to serving you by devoting increased manpower to site development and customer support.
In order to ensure that news reporting and commentary matches (and hopefully surpasses) our already excellent standards, Trinity Communications has signed Phil Lawler to a long term contract to continue as editor of the web site.
Together, we hope to begin a new era at CWNews.com. We look forward to making positive, incremental changes to the site over the course of the next few months.
Trinity is completely dedicated to providing you with a quality news service that is truly independent, just as Domus Enterprises has for years.
A Decade of Outstanding Catholic News
Catholic World News is the original English language Catholic online news service, with over a decade of experience since its inception in 1996.
After ten eventful news years, which have seen numerous other entrants to the online Catholic news market, we are still the best source for Catholic news, analysis and commentary that is both faithful to the teachings of the Church and truly independent.
Combine that independence with the years of dedication to reliable and responsible news coverage, and you have the unique recipe that makes Catholic World News so valuable. There's no "spin control" on the CWN site, and there's no gossip; just the sort of straight news and insightful commentary that you can count on.
So in May, when Phil Lawler told CWN readers that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone would be the next Vatican Secretary of State, you know that he wasn't just passing along the latest rumor. You knew -- almost a full month before the official announcement -- that it was going to happen.
Celebration and Promotional Special
We will be having a celebration event to mark our anniversary in late 2006. But as a precursor to that event, we'd like to thank you for your interest and past support through our current promotional special.
Right now, you can get a new annual subscription (or renewal) to Catholic World News for only $20.00 - a 33% discount from the usual price.
New subscribers need only click on the Subscribe Now! button on any page of www.CWNews.com to begin the process. When you enter your billing information, enter TENTH2 in the Promotional Code box and your discount will be applied to your purchase.
Current subscribers need only log in to their account (if not already logged in), and click View Account in the upper right-hand corner of any page.
From there, click "Renew Subscription" under Account Options. When you enter your billing information, enter TENTH2 in the Promotional Code box and your discount will be applied to your purchase.
We've recently made some changes to the subscription process. If you have any difficulty subscribing or renewing, please contact us immediately at subs@cwnews.com, and we will resolve your problem as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your attention and your support! We look forward to a great partnership between Trinity Communications, Domus Enterprises, and our readers.
God bless,
Peter Mirus and Phil Lawler
Catholic World News
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The "Have it your way" church....
Someone forwarded me the most recent Weekly Newsletter from Sts. Clare & Francis Ecumenical Catholic Community which contained this little nugget:
Secondly, as an apparent member of "Sts. Clare & Francis", why would she feel ashamed of the "Roman Catholic Church"? Since the Catholic Church has continued to proclaim the truth about the immorality of homosexual acts, despite the repeated calls for change by an anti-family, pro-death culture, all Catholics should be thankful that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church in faith and morals.
Unfortunately, sin results, not only in loss of God's grace, but in blindness and slavery. Being accepted and feeling "loved" and "hugged" comes not from one's intellect and will, but from the emotions. True and authentic love desires the highest and best for the sake of the beloved - and that is heaven, eternity with God. One cannot truthfully maintain that he loves another while confirming the one he claims to love in his sinfulness and rejection of God. To do so is to live a lie and it demonstrates that he is really not concerned with the beloved's well being.
Archbishop Burke, in reiterating the teachings of Christ and His Church, is expressing his love and compassion to those who suffer from same sex attractions. If he did not call them to live a life of chastity and virtue, he would not be following in the footsteps of Christ, Who says to all of us, "Go, and sin no more."
COMMUNITY CORNER…our family newsFirst off, I'm confused about this "progress of the Roman Catholic Church in the past two centuries"...Perhaps she meant " past two millenia"?
This is Gay Pride Week (???!!!) When you look at the progress of the Roman Catholic Church in the past two centuries, it's hard to feel very proud. In honor or memory of all the pain and suffering inflicted on gays and lesbians and, since it is Pride week, I wish everyone who chooses should log on to www.catholicactionnetwork.
When on that screen, click on Holy Families, then click on Read, then click on Correspondence with Archbishop Burke and read the letters to him that began in April of 2004 and continue in futility to this day.
His response is to encourage gays and lesbians to join a group called COURAGE to help them live a chaste life in order to open themselves to God's Grace and the families unfortunate enough to have a homosexual relative are to join COURAGE to learn how to tolerate this problem.
I just thank the Lord and God I have always loved and tried to serve, that he let [sic] me to Sts. Clare and Francis!! And I thank all of its members that have accepted me just as I am. I just wish each member would feel loved and hugged from those of us in the parish that are gay in celebration of Gay Pride Week. I cherish every member there. GOD BLESS THE ECC!!!!! – Judie Nauert
[Emphasis and links added, otherwise no changes were made]
Secondly, as an apparent member of "Sts. Clare & Francis", why would she feel ashamed of the "Roman Catholic Church"? Since the Catholic Church has continued to proclaim the truth about the immorality of homosexual acts, despite the repeated calls for change by an anti-family, pro-death culture, all Catholics should be thankful that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church in faith and morals.
...according to the objective moral order, homosexual relations are acts which lack an essential and indispensable finality. In Sacred Scripture they are condemned as a serious depravity and even presented as the sad consequence of rejecting God. This judgment of Scripture does not of course permit us to conclude that all those who suffer from this anomaly are personally responsible for it, but it does attest to the fact that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and can in no case be approved of. [Persona Humana, CDF, 1975]Archbishop Burke is ridiculed for proclaiming the truth and counselling others to seek the assistance of COURAGE...His advice is "futile" only to those who choose to reject God and continue lifestyles which are opposed to the natural and moral laws. For these people, we must continue to pray and offer reparations.
Unfortunately, sin results, not only in loss of God's grace, but in blindness and slavery. Being accepted and feeling "loved" and "hugged" comes not from one's intellect and will, but from the emotions. True and authentic love desires the highest and best for the sake of the beloved - and that is heaven, eternity with God. One cannot truthfully maintain that he loves another while confirming the one he claims to love in his sinfulness and rejection of God. To do so is to live a lie and it demonstrates that he is really not concerned with the beloved's well being.
Archbishop Burke, in reiterating the teachings of Christ and His Church, is expressing his love and compassion to those who suffer from same sex attractions. If he did not call them to live a life of chastity and virtue, he would not be following in the footsteps of Christ, Who says to all of us, "Go, and sin no more."
Latin - Ignorance or Bigotry?
A Letter to the Editor in this week's St. Louis Review, the St. Louis Archdiocesan Newspaper
As a reader of Adoremus for a number of years, I can recall no instance where it called for an abandonment of Sacrosanctum Concilium allowing for some use of the vernacular in the readings and such - Adoremus, A Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy, seeks only to promote authentic reform of the Liturgy of the Roman Rite. It's unfair to blame Adoremus for his fear of an "abandonment of Mass in the vernacular."
Mr. McCarthy states that the Latin Mass deserves to be a "bygone" - confined to a dusty old locker of historical irrelevance. I'm not certain to which Latin Mass he is referring. However, as anyone who knows what a "Roman Missal" is or who has recently witnessed the Holy Father celebrating Mass - these are in LATIN!
He further states that "for those who do not know Latin, the Latin Mass is essentially elitist and exclusive". Could we not say the same thing about any Mass celebrated in a language which we do not know? I once attended a Mass in Polish, and knowing not one word of Polish, I never thought for a moment that it was "elitist and exclusive." Perhaps with a Polish/English Missal, I might have been able to follow more closely.
If one has a current missal (Novus Ordo or Tridentine), one will usually see Latin on one side and English on the other. Is the Latin portion "elitist and exclusive"? I think Mr. McCarthy needed something to complain about.
Latin Mass conventionWhat to say, where to begin...Mr. McCarthy does not say if he is a member of the Latin Liturgy Association (LLA), but he has inferred, it seems, that there is a movement afoot by the LLA and Adoremus to deprive Catholics of Masses which have mundane and banal vernacular translations in favor of Latin - which remains the official language of the Church.
Editor:
Your June 16 article telling of the Latin Liturgy Association’s upcoming convention speakers, including the LLA’s founding chairman, a history professor, brought to mind a poem by Walt Whitman, "To a Historian," addressing him in its first line, "You who celebrate bygones!"
While the LLA’s stated goals are prudently more modestly stated, I fear what at least some of its members really seek is return to the universal Latin Mass and abandonment of Mass in the vernacular. My fear is based in part on years as a reading subscriber to Adoremus Bulletin.
Whitman’s address to the historian is doubly, even trebly, prophetic.
If anything ever deserved to become a bygone, it was the universal Latin Mass. The universal Latin Mass was a verbal rood screen separating the people, the vast majority of whom did not know Latin, from active participation in the Mass.
My concern is that some in LLA want all of us to resume celebrating this bygone. For those who do not know Latin, the Latin Mass is essentially elitist and exclusive. The last thing the Roman Catholic Church should be is elitist and exclusive.
James F. McCarthy
Des Peres
As a reader of Adoremus for a number of years, I can recall no instance where it called for an abandonment of Sacrosanctum Concilium allowing for some use of the vernacular in the readings and such - Adoremus, A Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy, seeks only to promote authentic reform of the Liturgy of the Roman Rite. It's unfair to blame Adoremus for his fear of an "abandonment of Mass in the vernacular."
Mr. McCarthy states that the Latin Mass deserves to be a "bygone" - confined to a dusty old locker of historical irrelevance. I'm not certain to which Latin Mass he is referring. However, as anyone who knows what a "Roman Missal" is or who has recently witnessed the Holy Father celebrating Mass - these are in LATIN!
He further states that "for those who do not know Latin, the Latin Mass is essentially elitist and exclusive". Could we not say the same thing about any Mass celebrated in a language which we do not know? I once attended a Mass in Polish, and knowing not one word of Polish, I never thought for a moment that it was "elitist and exclusive." Perhaps with a Polish/English Missal, I might have been able to follow more closely.
If one has a current missal (Novus Ordo or Tridentine), one will usually see Latin on one side and English on the other. Is the Latin portion "elitist and exclusive"? I think Mr. McCarthy needed something to complain about.
St. Gianna Parish makes progress toward opening
The new St. Gianna Parish in Wentzville is another step closer to opening. The city of Lake St. Louis has approved a special-use permit for a temporary church in a warehouse building about a mile from the permanent site of the parish.As I understand it, the new church will be an real church rather than some modernistic monstrosity devoid of sacred character. I have heard rumors of seeking the service of a well known architect (at least, in orthodox Catholic circles) - however, as this is unconfirmed, I will not mention who it is.
The parish is in territory previously served by St. Patrick Parish in Wentzville and Immaculate Conception Parish in Dardenne Prairie. It is the first new parish in St. Charles County since 1981 when Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish was founded.
Father Timothy Elliott, pastor of St. Gianna, said the occupancy permit could be issued in about a month. It would take six to eight weeks of work on the building, he said.
From what I can gather, there are many who are looking forward to seeing this new parish start and grow.
Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church Visits St Louis
His Beatitude and Eminence Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir
Image provided by Saint Raymond's
Saint Louis University will bestow its highest honor, Sword of Ignatius Loyola, on the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.
His Beatitude and Eminence Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, is visiting St. Louis and Saint Raymond's Maronite Cathedral as part of a pastoral visit to America. He is the most significant religious figure to visit St. Louis since Pope John Paul II in 1999, and his visit marks only the fourth time a Maronite patriarch has journeyed to the United States.
Cardinal Sfeir also will receive an honorary doctorate of laws from Saint Louis University during a special ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 30, in the Anheuser Busch Auditorium of John and Lucy Cook Hall. The event is open to members of the SLU community and the public.
Frist Needs to Be Sent Packing Back to Tennessee
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Revives Bill to Expand Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
This guy hasn't got a clue, or if he does, he doesn't know what to do with it. As a doctor, he should understand the moral and ethical problems of embryonic stem cell research and the destruction of human life.
Thankfully though, President Bush has threatened to veto such legislation.
Please contact your senators (by clicking here) and urge strong opposition to using taxpayer funds to pay for embryonic stem cell research...
This guy hasn't got a clue, or if he does, he doesn't know what to do with it. As a doctor, he should understand the moral and ethical problems of embryonic stem cell research and the destruction of human life.
WASHINGTON Jun 29, 2006 (AP)— Urged anew by Nancy Reagan, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday revived a bill to expand funding for embryonic stem cell research after conservatives who had blocked it withdrew their objections.This man is a disgrace to that which is is right, just and moral. He has been unable (or unwilling) to lead the Republican-controlled Senate, opting instead to assume a position of surrender to those of the party of immorality and death. What weakness and cowardice he and his cohorts demonstrate...Because of his leadership failure and the failure of others to oppose him, I suspect we may soon witness an even greater number of those of the pro-death, anti-family culture in the Senate. What a disgusting excuse of a man (allegedly)...
"It's my intention now that we've gotten over this first hurdle that we will (vote on the bill) in the not too distant future," Frist said as he brought the three-bill package to the floor.
"We'll do this before we get out of here for the October break?" asked Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
"We will," replied Frist, R-Tenn.
Thankfully though, President Bush has threatened to veto such legislation.
Please contact your senators (by clicking here) and urge strong opposition to using taxpayer funds to pay for embryonic stem cell research...
Mental Prayer for June 30 - Generosity
Mental Prayer Meditation Helps
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: To imitate Christ's generous spirit.
Mental Picture: I remember what He said the night before...sitting at the Last Supper... His telling us that He and His Father loved us... then how He gave us His own Body and Blood... and then His words that the greatest love a man can have is the laying down of his own life for a friend. All through His life in a most generous way He showed His love for His neighbor, for me, by word and deed. Now I look up at Him... His hands can no longer heal the sick... His feet can no longer journey after the lost sheep... for they are nailed to the cross. But He can still show His greatest love: in His most generous giving of Himself, He lays down His life for me.
My Personal Application: That God could love me - and all men - so much! Real love must manifest itself in deeds. If my love of Christ is to mean anything, it must mean that I keep His commandments - above all, His great new commandment to love all men... to spend myself generously in helping them... offering my time and energy in whatever way is available to me.
I Speak to Christ: My Lord, you have loved me and have given yourself up for me. I want to love you generously.
Thought for Today: "Greater love than this...."
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: To imitate Christ's generous spirit.
Mental Picture: I remember what He said the night before...sitting at the Last Supper... His telling us that He and His Father loved us... then how He gave us His own Body and Blood... and then His words that the greatest love a man can have is the laying down of his own life for a friend. All through His life in a most generous way He showed His love for His neighbor, for me, by word and deed. Now I look up at Him... His hands can no longer heal the sick... His feet can no longer journey after the lost sheep... for they are nailed to the cross. But He can still show His greatest love: in His most generous giving of Himself, He lays down His life for me.
My Personal Application: That God could love me - and all men - so much! Real love must manifest itself in deeds. If my love of Christ is to mean anything, it must mean that I keep His commandments - above all, His great new commandment to love all men... to spend myself generously in helping them... offering my time and energy in whatever way is available to me.
I Speak to Christ: My Lord, you have loved me and have given yourself up for me. I want to love you generously.
Thought for Today: "Greater love than this...."
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Archbishop Burke, Bishop Rifan on Latin Mass, Reunion with Orthodox
From a new article by Brian Mershon:
Is it truly feasible that the "freeing of the classical Roman rite of liturgy" is a small part of the Pope's overall plan for paving the way for the reuniting of the Latin Church with the separated Churches of the East?
Bishop Fernando Rifan, who heads up the Apostolic Administration of St. John Mary Vianney in Campos, Brazil, said he believed a further liberalization of the liturgical rite of Pope St. Pius V would aid ecumenical relations with the East.
. . .
Archbishop Raymond Burke, a notably obedient son of the Church, particularly with applying Pope John Paul II's request in Ecclesia Dei Adflicta to be "wide and generous" in allowing the Classical Roman liturgy for those Catholics who desire it, agrees with Bishop Rifan's assessment, but with a nuance.
"I wouldn't think that the Holy Father would be doing this simply as a strategy [for ecumenical relations with the Orthodox], but I do think it will be an effect of a restoration or in the 'reform of the reform' of the liturgy," Archbishop Burke said.
"It seems to me for the Eastern rites, and for those of the Orthodox Churches, the reform of the liturgy after the council and the concrete expression is so stripped of the transcendent, of the sacral elements, it is difficult for them to recognize its relationship with their Eucharistic Liturgies," he said.
Gospel for Friday, 12th Week in Ordinary Time
From: Matthew 8:1-4
The Curing of a Leper
[1] When He (Jesus) came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him; [2] and behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean." [3] And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [4] And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.
______________________
Commentary:
Chapters 8 and 9 of St. Matthew deal with a series of miracles worked by our Lord. The first Christians had vivid experience of the fact that the glorified Jesus was still present in His Church, confirming its teaching by signs, by miracles (Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3).
And so, St. Matthew, after giving the nucleus of Jesus' public teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7), goes on now to gather a number of miracles to support our Lord's words. Some commentators call this section--Chapters 8 and 9--"the works of the Messiah", paralleling what they called "the words of the Messiah" (the Discourse on the Mount). In Chapters 5-7 we see Jesus as the supreme lawgiver and master who teaches with divine authority, a unique authority superior to that held by Moses and the prophets. Now, in Chapters 8 and 9, He is shown as endowed with divine authority over disease, death, the elements and evil spirits. These miracles worked by Jesus Christ accredit the divine authority of His teaching.
1. The Gospel draws attention, for the third time, to the huge crowds that flocked to Jesus: literally, "many multitudes followed Him". This shows the popularity He had achieved: He was so popular that the Sanhedrin (the great council of the Jewish nation) dared not arrest Him for fear of what the people would do (cf. Matthew 21:46; 26:5; Mark 14:2). Later on, they would accuse Him before Pilate of stirring up the whole country from Judea to Galilee. And we will see Herod Antipas' eagerness to meet Jesus, of whom he has heard so much (cf. Matthew 14:1). In contrast to this huge popularity, we find the elders opposing Him and deceiving the people into calling for Jesus' execution (cf. Matthew 27:20-22).
2. The Fathers have taken the following meaning from this cure: leprosy is a vivid image of sin: it is ugly, disgusting, very contagious and difficult to cure. We are all sinners and we are all in need of God's forgiveness and grace (cf. Romans 3:23-24). The leper in the Gospel knelt down before Jesus, in all humility and trust, begging to be made clean. If we have recourse to our Savior with that kind of faith, we can be sure than He will cure the wretchedness of our souls. We should often address Christ with this short prayer, borrowed from the leper: "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."
4. According to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14), if a leper is cured of his disease, he should present himself to a priest, who will register the cure and give him a certificate which he needs to be reintegrated into the civil and religious life of Israel. Leviticus also prescribes the purifications and sacrifice he should offer. Jesus' instruction to the leper is, then, in keeping with the normal way of fulfilling what the laws laid down.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
The Curing of a Leper
[1] When He (Jesus) came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him; [2] and behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean." [3] And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [4] And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.
______________________
Commentary:
Chapters 8 and 9 of St. Matthew deal with a series of miracles worked by our Lord. The first Christians had vivid experience of the fact that the glorified Jesus was still present in His Church, confirming its teaching by signs, by miracles (Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3).
And so, St. Matthew, after giving the nucleus of Jesus' public teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7), goes on now to gather a number of miracles to support our Lord's words. Some commentators call this section--Chapters 8 and 9--"the works of the Messiah", paralleling what they called "the words of the Messiah" (the Discourse on the Mount). In Chapters 5-7 we see Jesus as the supreme lawgiver and master who teaches with divine authority, a unique authority superior to that held by Moses and the prophets. Now, in Chapters 8 and 9, He is shown as endowed with divine authority over disease, death, the elements and evil spirits. These miracles worked by Jesus Christ accredit the divine authority of His teaching.
1. The Gospel draws attention, for the third time, to the huge crowds that flocked to Jesus: literally, "many multitudes followed Him". This shows the popularity He had achieved: He was so popular that the Sanhedrin (the great council of the Jewish nation) dared not arrest Him for fear of what the people would do (cf. Matthew 21:46; 26:5; Mark 14:2). Later on, they would accuse Him before Pilate of stirring up the whole country from Judea to Galilee. And we will see Herod Antipas' eagerness to meet Jesus, of whom he has heard so much (cf. Matthew 14:1). In contrast to this huge popularity, we find the elders opposing Him and deceiving the people into calling for Jesus' execution (cf. Matthew 27:20-22).
2. The Fathers have taken the following meaning from this cure: leprosy is a vivid image of sin: it is ugly, disgusting, very contagious and difficult to cure. We are all sinners and we are all in need of God's forgiveness and grace (cf. Romans 3:23-24). The leper in the Gospel knelt down before Jesus, in all humility and trust, begging to be made clean. If we have recourse to our Savior with that kind of faith, we can be sure than He will cure the wretchedness of our souls. We should often address Christ with this short prayer, borrowed from the leper: "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."
4. According to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14), if a leper is cured of his disease, he should present himself to a priest, who will register the cure and give him a certificate which he needs to be reintegrated into the civil and religious life of Israel. Leviticus also prescribes the purifications and sacrifice he should offer. Jesus' instruction to the leper is, then, in keeping with the normal way of fulfilling what the laws laid down.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Dr Edward Peters: Excommunication for deliberate embryo destruction?
Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, the outspoken president of the Pontifical Council on the Family, has asserted that "destroying human embryos is equivalent to abortion"; therefore, he says, those directly involved in such deeds are liable to the canonical penalty established for abortion, namely, excommunication (1983 CIC 1398). That the cardinal stands on solid biological and moral grounds in equating deliberate embryo destruction with procured abortion is beyond serious question. What I want to ask is whether he stands on solid canonical grounds as well.An excellent explanation continues at Dr. Peters' blog here.
What I would hope to see discussed in the near future, from a canonical perspective, is whether those who aid and abet others in these evil and murderous acts could be viewed as accomplices. Such might be those rent or sell office space for such activity, or those who promote, legislate, or approve such immoral acts. It seems that more is needed to clear up any confusion some might have on this issue. This will be another "hot button" issue for the people of Missouri and elsewhere soon.
Supreme Court Asked To Stay Lower Court Order To Remove the Mt. Soledad Cross
ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, this morning, filed an emergency application in the U.S. Supreme Court asking Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy to stay a lower federal court decision that orders the City of San Diego to remove the Mt. Soledad Cross by August 1st or face fines of $5,000 a day thereafter. The City has indicated that unless the legal situation changes, it will comply with the lower court order to remove the cross and will begin plans to implement that order beginning in the first week of July.
Learn Latin and Learn More of Everything
Dad, How Do You Say "Video" in Latin?
This is a good article from the New Oxford Review which is well worth reading. For those who had the opportunity of studying Latin, most will understand. For those who were not afforded an opportunity to learn Latin, it's never too late to learn.
This is a good article from the New Oxford Review which is well worth reading. For those who had the opportunity of studying Latin, most will understand. For those who were not afforded an opportunity to learn Latin, it's never too late to learn.
There is no denying that the classical languages, Latin and Greek, have sustained quite a battering in the past 50-odd years. Pointing fingers at the culprits, producing arguments in their favor, or demolishing those against them, has all been done. My intention is to understand the phenomenon of the (apparent) demise of the classical languages, and to highlight their return with a vengeance, now taking place before our very eyes, thanks mostly to the Internet.
A Lost Catechetical Moment?
Remember Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida? That's right - he's the bishop who made himself unavailable (out of the country) when Terri Schiavo was starved and dehydrated to death...
"Out of the Ordinary" - Now there's a play on words...
Well, now the good bishop has begun his "catechesis" on the new translation of the prayers of the Roman Missal:
The faithful of the diocese await his next "catechesis" as we read:
"Out of the Ordinary" - Now there's a play on words...
Well, now the good bishop has begun his "catechesis" on the new translation of the prayers of the Roman Missal:
Allow me to respond to a number of questions which you might have about this action: Why? Where? When?Is Bishop Lynch happy with this process?
The translation currently in use was admittedly rushed, is at times somewhat inelegant, but has generally served the nation's Catholics well, receiving high marks for intelligibility, proclamation and prayerfulness....It would appear that he is not. Does his affection for the Holy See not shine forth from his words?
[Our previous] translation was rejected by the Holy See because between its passage and its approval by the Vatican, new principles of translation were forthcoming which insisted on a slavish, strict translation of the Latin text. In other words, the ground rules for the translators were changed and yet a third translation was required to meet the stricter rules of the governing document approved by Pope John Paul II. (emphasis added)
The faithful of the diocese await his next "catechesis" as we read:
Prior to implementation, we will need to work together to prepare some catechesis. Several examples which come to my mind are that the strict interpretation of the Latin "Dominus Vobiscum" and "et cum spiritu tuo" leads to the new response to the priest's words, "The Lord be with you" as "And with your spirit." What does that mean? More later.More later? Everyone waits with bated breath...
And just prior to receiving Communion you will now say "Lord, I am not ... that you should come under my roof ... " What does that mean? More later.
To Catholic Bishops: Say Yes When You Mean Yes
Commentary by Judie BrownClick here for the complete commentary from Judie Brown of the American Life League.
Having been frequently described by my fellow pro-lifers as lacking all understanding of political nuances and innuendo, you will pardon me for being overly simplistic in what I am about to tell you. But truth be told, my mind is spinning and my heart is troubled over the recent action of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding reception of Holy Communion by Catholics in the public arena who support abortion.
For several years we at American Life League have pleaded with our bishops to lead their sheep out of the quagmire that has led to more than 50 percent of Catholics feeling (and perhaps honestly believing) that they can support abortion and abortion-minded public officials and still remain good, upstanding Catholics. . .
If the people in the pew are thinking that, scandal is created, and potentially souls are at risk. Now maybe that doesn’t bother you, but it deeply troubles me. And that is why the recent news from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops blew me away. Who would have ever guessed that the bishops would come out of their meeting without a unanimous agreement on how to instruct the faithful, and how to enforce Canon 915 of the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law?
. . .
The few bishops who have stood up and publicly enunciated a clear teaching on Canon 915 have been the butt of derision both inside and outside the USCCB. In fact, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s parting shot at the end of the bishops’ most recent meeting was to suggest that some of his fellow bishops were delving into “partisan politics.” And one newspaper in St. Louis, where the heroic Archbishop Raymond Burke leads his flock without apology, described the archbishop as a man whose strategy was “High Noon at the altar rail.”
. . .
Archbishop Burke said yes to Christ, yes to his obligation to teach, yes to his flock whose souls mean more to him than anything a newspaper might say in attacking him. Likewise, a handful of other bishops have taken the same stand. Unfortunately, those shepherds are an embarrassingly small minority.
What about all the rest of the bishops? I guess only time will tell; it just sorrows me that so many souls may be lost forever while so many bishops continue to meet, greet and retreat. [Emphasis added]
HT to Darla M for the link.
Missouri Polling Results: Stem Cells and Archbishop Burke
Results of a Missouri Poll as published in the Post Dispatch a few days ago. I extracted a couple of the poll results on the Stem Cell issue and on Archbishop Burke for inclusion here...This poll demonstrates how generally ill informed people are regarding the moral and ethical problems with the killing and destruction of human life:
STEM CELL:
STEM CELL:
QUESTION: Missouri voters may face a ballot proposal this fall dealing with stem cell research. The proposal would allow all types of stem-cell research allowed under federal law, including an embryonic stem-cell procedure known as somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which uses an unfertilized human egg. Supporters say such research may be the only way to provide cures for diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's and cancer, and is not human cloning. Opponents say that embryonic stem cells have not yet provided cures, and that SCNT creates a cloned human embryo. Do you favor or oppose the ballot proposal?
| FAVOR | OPPOSE | NOT SURE | |
| ALL | 62% | 35% | 3% |
| MEN | 64% | 34% | 2% |
| WOMEN | 60% | 36% | 4% |
| DEMOCRATS | 83% | 16% | 1% |
| REPUBLICANS | 40% | 58% | 2% |
| INDEPENDENTS | 64% | 28% | 8% |
| WHITE | 59% | 39% | 2% |
| BLACK | 83% | 8% | 9% |
| OTHER | 83% | 9% | 8% |
| 18-19 | 68% | 31% | 1% |
| 30-44 | 55% | 39% | 6% |
| 45-59 | 62% | 35% | 3% |
| 60+ | 64% | 34% | 2% |
| ST. LOUIS CITY | 84% | 14% | 2% |
| ST.LOUIS SUB | 72% | 26% | 2% |
| KANSAS CITY | 75% | 23% | 2% |
| NORETH/SE | 44% | 51% | 4% |
| SOUTHWEST | 44% | 51% | 5% |
QUESTION: Do you approve or disapprove of Archbishop Raymond Burke's efforts to influence the political debate about embryonic stem cell research and abortion?
| APPROVE | DISAPPROVE | UNSURE | |
| ALL | 37% | 56% | 7% |
| MEN | 36% | 58% | 6% |
| WOMEN | 38% | 54% | 8% |
| DEMOCRATS | 23% | 71% | 6% |
| REPUBLICANS | 56% | 38% | 6% |
| INDEPENDENTS | 30% | 60% | 10% |
Gospel for June 29,Solemnity: Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
From: Matthew 16:13-19:
Peter's Profession of Faith and His Primacy
[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" [14] And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [15] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." [17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."
____________________________
Commentary:
13-20. In this passage St. Peter is promised primacy over the whole Church, a primacy which Jesus will confer on him after His Resurrection, as we learn in the Gospel of St. John (cf. John 21:15-18). This supreme authority is given to Peter for the benefit of the Church. Because the Church has to last until the end of time, this authority will be passed on to Peter's successors down through history. The Bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the successor of Peter.
The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council, defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in these terms:
"We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, `You shall be called Cephas' (John 1:42). Then, after Simon had acknowledged Christ with the confession, `You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matthew 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the solemn words were spoken by the Lord: `Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven' (Matthew 16:17-19). And after His Resurrection, Jesus conferred upon Simon Peter alone the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over His whole fold with the words, `Feed My lambs....Feed My sheep' (John 21:15-17) [...]
"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that the blessed Apostle Peter was not constituted by Christ the Lord as the Prince of all the Apostles and the visible head of the whole Church militant, or that he received immediately and directly from Jesus Christ our Lord only a primacy of honor and not a true and proper primacy of jurisdiction: let him be condemned.
"Now, what Christ the Lord, Supreme Shepherd and watchful guardian of the flock, established in the person of the blessed Apostle Peter for the perpetual safety and everlasting good of the Church must, by the will of the same, endure without interruption in the Church which was founded on the rock and which will remain firm until the end of the world. Indeed, `no one doubts, in fact it is obvious to all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, Prince and head of the Apostles, the pillar of faith, and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer of the human race; and even to this time and forever he lives,' and governs, `and exercises judgment in his successors' (cf. Council of Ephesus), the bishops of the holy Roman See, which he established and consecrated with his blood. Therefore, whoever succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole Church according to the plan of Christ Himself [...]. For this reason, `because of its greater sovereignty,' it was always `necessary for every church, that is, the faithful who are everywhere, to be in agreement' with the same Roman Church [...]
"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that it is not according to the institution of Christ our Lord himself, that is, by divine law, that St Peter has perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church; or if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of St Peter in the same primacy: let him be condemned.
"We think it extremely necessary to assert solemnly the prerogative which the only-begotten Son of God deigned to join to the highest pastoral office. "And so, faithfully keeping to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our Savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and for the salvation of Christian peoples, We, with the approval of the sacred council, teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks "ex cathedra", that is, when, acting in the office of shepherd and teacher of all Christians, he defines, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, possesses through the divine assistance promised to him in the person of St. Peter, the infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed His Church to be endowed in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals; and that such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are therefore irreformable because of their nature, but not because of the agreement of the Church.
"(Canon) But if anyone presumes to contradict this our definition (God forbid him to do so): let him be condemned" (Vatican I, "Pastor Aeternus", Chaps. 1, 2 and 4).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Peter's Profession of Faith and His Primacy
[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" [14] And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [15] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." [17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."
____________________________
Commentary:
13-20. In this passage St. Peter is promised primacy over the whole Church, a primacy which Jesus will confer on him after His Resurrection, as we learn in the Gospel of St. John (cf. John 21:15-18). This supreme authority is given to Peter for the benefit of the Church. Because the Church has to last until the end of time, this authority will be passed on to Peter's successors down through history. The Bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the successor of Peter.
The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council, defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in these terms:
"We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, `You shall be called Cephas' (John 1:42). Then, after Simon had acknowledged Christ with the confession, `You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matthew 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the solemn words were spoken by the Lord: `Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven' (Matthew 16:17-19). And after His Resurrection, Jesus conferred upon Simon Peter alone the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over His whole fold with the words, `Feed My lambs....Feed My sheep' (John 21:15-17) [...]
"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that the blessed Apostle Peter was not constituted by Christ the Lord as the Prince of all the Apostles and the visible head of the whole Church militant, or that he received immediately and directly from Jesus Christ our Lord only a primacy of honor and not a true and proper primacy of jurisdiction: let him be condemned.
"Now, what Christ the Lord, Supreme Shepherd and watchful guardian of the flock, established in the person of the blessed Apostle Peter for the perpetual safety and everlasting good of the Church must, by the will of the same, endure without interruption in the Church which was founded on the rock and which will remain firm until the end of the world. Indeed, `no one doubts, in fact it is obvious to all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, Prince and head of the Apostles, the pillar of faith, and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer of the human race; and even to this time and forever he lives,' and governs, `and exercises judgment in his successors' (cf. Council of Ephesus), the bishops of the holy Roman See, which he established and consecrated with his blood. Therefore, whoever succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole Church according to the plan of Christ Himself [...]. For this reason, `because of its greater sovereignty,' it was always `necessary for every church, that is, the faithful who are everywhere, to be in agreement' with the same Roman Church [...]
"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that it is not according to the institution of Christ our Lord himself, that is, by divine law, that St Peter has perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church; or if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of St Peter in the same primacy: let him be condemned.
"We think it extremely necessary to assert solemnly the prerogative which the only-begotten Son of God deigned to join to the highest pastoral office. "And so, faithfully keeping to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our Savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and for the salvation of Christian peoples, We, with the approval of the sacred council, teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks "ex cathedra", that is, when, acting in the office of shepherd and teacher of all Christians, he defines, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, possesses through the divine assistance promised to him in the person of St. Peter, the infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed His Church to be endowed in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals; and that such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are therefore irreformable because of their nature, but not because of the agreement of the Church.
"(Canon) But if anyone presumes to contradict this our definition (God forbid him to do so): let him be condemned" (Vatican I, "Pastor Aeternus", Chaps. 1, 2 and 4).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Mental Prayer for June 29 - Courage
Mental Prayer Meditation Helps
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: The understanding of what real courage is and the strength to act on that knowledge.
Mental Picture (d. John 2: 14-17) : Jesus moving through the narrow, dusty streets of Jerusalem... headed for the temple to teach. Through the gate... into the outer court... and there in God's house... a crowd of haggling merchants. Jesus is on the spot... all eyes watch to see what He will do: pretend He does not notice the evil?... face the evil and try to fight it?... "and He drove out all those who bought and sold there, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers" (Matt. 21:12).
My Personal Application : Courage is overcoming a difficulty in going after a real good... as Christ overcame the smirks and whispers of the onlookers and did the right thing. For me those "difficulties" will have many shapes and sizes: What will the gang think ?... My own comfort and ease... The loss of a so-called friend. To go after the right thing, because it is the right thing - can I think of such situations right now? One of the opposites of courage is cowardice: running away when things get difficult. The other is recklessness: acting without thinking first... sticking one's chin out without need... Some think this is courage.
I Speak to Christ: I think I see better now, Jesus, what real courage is. Let me keep your example in mind. Help me to act your way in difficult situations... to take the hurt... to go on when a good is to be achieved... in spite of what others might think or say.
Thought for Today: Fear did not stop Him, nor did criticism hold Him back.
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: The understanding of what real courage is and the strength to act on that knowledge.
Mental Picture (d. John 2: 14-17) : Jesus moving through the narrow, dusty streets of Jerusalem... headed for the temple to teach. Through the gate... into the outer court... and there in God's house... a crowd of haggling merchants. Jesus is on the spot... all eyes watch to see what He will do: pretend He does not notice the evil?... face the evil and try to fight it?... "and He drove out all those who bought and sold there, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers" (Matt. 21:12).
My Personal Application : Courage is overcoming a difficulty in going after a real good... as Christ overcame the smirks and whispers of the onlookers and did the right thing. For me those "difficulties" will have many shapes and sizes: What will the gang think ?... My own comfort and ease... The loss of a so-called friend. To go after the right thing, because it is the right thing - can I think of such situations right now? One of the opposites of courage is cowardice: running away when things get difficult. The other is recklessness: acting without thinking first... sticking one's chin out without need... Some think this is courage.
I Speak to Christ: I think I see better now, Jesus, what real courage is. Let me keep your example in mind. Help me to act your way in difficult situations... to take the hurt... to go on when a good is to be achieved... in spite of what others might think or say.
Thought for Today: Fear did not stop Him, nor did criticism hold Him back.
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Catholic Embryonic Stem Cell Researches and Excommunication
Jun. 28 (CWNews.com) - Scientists who conduct research involving the destruction of human embryos are subject to excommunication, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family has warned.
In an interview with the Italian weekly Famiglia Cristiana, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo said that the canonical penalty of excommunication, which is applied to those involved in abortion, also applies to involvement in stem-cell research.
Deliberately destroying embryos for research purposes, the prelate observed, "is equivalent to abortion." The same penalty would apply, he said, since "it is the same action."
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