One week to go till the finish of my yearly devotion: St. Louis de Monfort’s “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.” It has been an awesome journey of faith. It ends next Sunday, when I renew my consecration of the Marian Feast of “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
As a side note, completion of the devotion and consecration, — along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation attained yesterday, attendance at Mass on the day of consecration, and reception of the Holy Eucharist on that day, — will grant me a plenary indulgence: a total wiping clean of any imperfections on my soul from the abuses I have earned through my own sins – and that’s some serious wiping! This is the ultimate in being prepared for the Parousia. (If you do not understand what “parousia” is, you will after reading this reflection today.)
** A mini-reflection: (You get two reflections, for the price of one today!)
For those did not know their Church Calendar backwards and forwards, this past Friday was the feast of the “Transfiguration of the Lord.”
The Transfiguration of Christ is related in detail in the Synoptic gospels: Matthew 17:1-6, Mark 9:1-8, and Luke 9:28-36. Six days after His stopover in Cæsarea Philippi, Jesus took Peter, James and John to Mount Tabor where H
e was “transfigured” before their eyes. His face shone as the sun, and his garments became snow white. The dazzling brightness which emanated from His whole Body was produced by an interior shining of His Divinity.
This sounds a lot like what happened with Moses on Mount Sinai, as written in Exodus: “The glory of the LORD settled upon Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days, and on the seventh day he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD was seen as a consuming fire on the mountaintop. But Moses passed into the midst of the cloud as he went up on the mountain; and there he stayed for forty days and forty nights. As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord.” (NAB Ex 24: 16-18, 34: 29)
Previously, we learned from Exodus 3:14 — “God replied, ‘I am who am.’ Then he added, ‘This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.’” — that God revealed His glory in the bush that was burning bright, but not consumed. Then, at a later time as written above, the bush blazed and the cloud became luminous on the mountain top, as God gave Moses the Law of the Covenant. On another mountain top, Jesus like the bush before, again revealed His glory in Jesus, and the glory of His Father shining threw His whole body, and even His garments.
In this manifestation, Moses and Elijah not only encouraged Jesus, but also adored Him as the promised one of God. And, for the second time (the first being at His baptism in the Jordan River), God spoke and proclaimed Him His only-begotten and well-loved Son. Jesus’ speaking with Moses and Elijah about the trials which awaited Him at Jerusalem strengthened His faith, and the growing faith of his three friends, preparing them ALL for the terrible struggle they were to endure at Gethsemane. After all, in witnessing this beautiful manifestation, Peter, James, and John received a foretaste of the glory and heavenly delights to come.
Have you been transfigured? Are you burning with God’s love and revelation? Have you ever received Jesus in Holy Communion?
PS – See if you can find the link between the “Transfiguration” and today’s Gospel reading.
Does anyone have access to a few free “used but still usable” 1 volume Divine Office books (“Christian Prayer”)? We have several new Inquirers and Candidates in our SFO Fraternity. If you know of one collecting dust, please let us use it for the glory of God. Will pick up if in St. Louis metro area, or will gladly pay for postage. Please let me know if you can help. We need a minimum of three, but can use 10 if possible.
Our SFO Fraternity has decided to try to get hold of donated “Christian Prayer” books that have been used in order to save trees, and to continue the good works from Religious that have died or left the order. When using the original owner’s book, we will also be praying for their soul and intentions. (What’s a better payment than praying for one’s soul and intentions?!)
Quote or Joke of the Day:
“What I desire most is to be faithful and to finish the race. It doesn’t matter if I finish running or crawling; all I want is to finish and to hear God the Father say to me, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:23). I can’t give up; I must keep going.”
— Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR,
Hiking the Camino:
500 Miles with Jesus,
Servant Books
Today’s reflection is about being prepared, for when we do not know or expect, the Son of Man will come.
32 Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 35 “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. 39 Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 41 Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; 48 and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. (NAB Luke 12:32-48)
God desires to give us His Kingdom. He wants to take us to be with Him forever in paradise. But we MUST wait, and be Prepared. Sounds like a “scouting” thing to me. Maybe the scouts have it right in their “Scouting Oath and Law:”
“On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
The “Scout Law” is to be: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent (12 virtues). What else can you ask for in being a Catholic? Our entire Catechism and focus of our faith are possibly summed up in these two promises that “children” pledge routinely throughout the world. Didn’t Jesus say we are to be like children to enter the kingdom? Kind of makes you think; doesn’t it!?
Today’s Gospel Reading is a collection of quips and sayings related to Luke’s understanding of the “end time” and “the return of Jesus.” Luke emphasized the importance of being faithful to the instructions and teachings of Jesus in the period before the “parousia.” What the heck is “parousia?”
Parousia is the return of Jesus Christ to end the current period of human history and existence on earth, and to open the new era of paradise here for some, and eternal torment, also here, for others. This “time” when Jesus will return has been given many names: the Day of the Lord, the Parousia, the end time, and the Second Coming of Christ. I might even call it the “Oops – Too Late” time for some.
Why do we have to wait for the Parousia? The Jewish people knew and trusted they would defeat their many enemies, but had to endure many plagues and tribulations before they were released by the Pharaoh, after the first “Passover.” Abraham and Sarah had to wait a very long time before Isaac was born: and ditto for Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth. I, for one, never joke about my wife and I being too old to get pregnant: God does have an awesome and surprissing sense of humor after all! Waiting is a necessary component of faith in God: it is a virtue called patience.
God has bequeathed to us paradise with Him. He just asks us to be prepared, by doing a few simple things. First, forget about the materialistic things of this world, and instead embrace the spiritual things of His kingdom. Secondly, use the resources available to you to help others in need. After all, as is written in today’s Gospel reading, “where your treasure is, there also will your heart be (Luke 12:34).”
“Gird your loins and light your lamps … ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks ….” I yelled out this phrase to my teenage children, and then almost fell out of my chair laughing after seeing their faces. I honestly believe they thought I went off the deep end! This phrase simply means to be dressed and ready to go, day or night; for when He comes, no one knows. I’ll go even further and say that the “dressed” part of this phrase is to be dressed in God’s graces and virtues; and the “light” is the illumination present in us (we call this “Sanctifying Grace”). This transfigured grace guides us in walking in the brightness of Jesus’ footsteps.
Peter asks if this parable is meant just for the Apostles, or for the large crowd that had gathered to listen to Jesus. Without answering Peter’s question, Jesus responds with yet another parable (I love Jesus’ style) about servants awaiting the return of their master.
This new parable adds to the theme of vigilance and caution. It explains how to wait, and reminds us of the reward for the faithful follower at the heavenly banquet in paradise. If it was addressed to the Apostles, then it was addressed to the leadership of the “early” Catholic Church; and the “Church body” of today: the faithful individuals and community, in union with the Magisterium.
Those faithful followers and servants whom God finds observant will be sanctified on His return: the Parousia. God so dearly wants to oblige himself to us. He desires to have us recline at His table, and wishes to wait on us as He hosts the divine feast in heaven. I suspect God will be the perfectly gracious host, at a meal of a lifetime!
“My master is delayed in coming” is a statement that indicates that the early Christian expectation for the impending return of Jesus had undergone some modification. Luke warns his readers against depending on such a delay and acting irresponsibly, and may I say unwisely. A similar warning can found in Matthew 24:48-51: “But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” Two warnings in the hand are better than one soul in hell! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Is this time of preparation and waiting going to be an easy wait? Hell NO! – Literally. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. The “Peter Principle” states that “we rise to our highest level of incompetency.” The “Jesus Principle” states that we can rise to the highest level of sanctification and perfection.
God’s kingdom is unfolding in this world and in our hearts and souls – TODAY! We actually see a hint of the kingdom at every Mass and Liturgical Sacrament. We catch sight of the kingdom every time we gather in His name. We make out His kingdom in every person we help, we forgive, and to whom we ask for forgiveness.
We are not to be like the greedy rich fool in last Sunday’s Gospel reading who planned to store his great harvest in barns rather than share it. We are instead to share our wealth with anyone we encounter in need. We need to see Jesus in all humans, regardless of their earthly predicaments. The solution for the angst or fear brought on by Jesus’ return and the coming judgment is to surrender our greed and dependence for material possessions, and to provide for the needs of others as our circumstances allow us. Our immense treasure will instead be in heaven, where it cannot wear out, be stolen, nor destroyed (Luke 12: 33).
How many clocks are in your home? If you’re like me, you have a timepiece everywhere: the kitchen and living room walls; on the microwave and oven, on the DVD/DVR device(s), on both sides of the bed, on the cell phone(s), and maybe even on your wrist. With all of these time reminders, are you (or a loved one) still repetitively late to appointments, breaking my “11th Commandment: “Thou shall never be late!”?
FYI, I don’t believe you really want to be late, when the Parousia occurs. Place a symbol such as a crucifix, Rosary, or picture of the “Sacred Heart of Jesus,” near your clocks as a reminder that it is always “time” for us to be acting like Disciples of Christ. Another easy thing that I have recently started doing is to set an alarm on my cell phone (that is ALWAYS with me) for 3 p.m. (that’s 1500 hours for the military mind set). At this time each and every day, when the alarm alerts me, I pray a very simple and short prayer: “Jesus, I trust in you.” This literally puts Jesus into my thoughts and heart at least once in the middle, and probably the busiest point, of every day.
Another major way to be ready for the coming judgment is to simply be on continuous alert. We must be like the servants waiting for the master’s return from a wedding banquet that (even now) usually lasts for days in the Middle East. (And we complain about a couple hours of bad food and cash bars.) We need be watchful, so that even if Jesus comes in the middle of the night, we will be ready for Him. We ought to be found doing our Catholic and sacred jobs when Jesus arrives at the time of the Parousia. If we are doing our jobs, our reward will be great. But if we relax and neglect our duties, acting like the greedy rich man, we will not have a place in God’s kingdom: eternal paradise. This requires that we be living in a consistently moral and obedient way, so that we are always ready and prepared to give a first-rate account to God of how we have lived.
It can be an easy wait for those that maintain their faith and Christian practices. Here is the secret: Just live every day as you want to live in God’s Kingdom. If you do, Jesus will surely wait on you! He’ll honor you for helping others, and for walking in His footsteps.
There is a great hope and joy in today’s Gospel reading. God is never outdone in generosity! God ALWAYS wins: and He picked all of us to be on His team!
“The Apostles Creed”
“I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.”
Pax et Bonum
Dan Halley, SFO
*****
A Franciscan’s Saint of the Day: Holy Father Dominic 1170-1221
Dominic was born to wealthy Spanish nobility. At his baptism, his mother saw a star shining from his chest. Dominic, though of noble stature, eventually turned his back entirely on material possessions and wealth.
He studied theology at Palencia, and became the “Canon” of the church of Osma. As a Priest and Augustinian, Dominic lived a lifelong apostolate among heretics, especially the Albigensians in France. He founded the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in 1215. The Dominicans were a group who live a simple and austere life. Dominic also founded an order of nuns dedicated to the care of young girls. He was a true visionary, and associated with friends such as Saint Amata of Assisi (a Poor Clare Nun).
At one point Dominic became discouraged at the stalled progress of his mission; the heresies remained. He received a vision from Our Lady who showed him a wreath of roses, and told him to say the Rosary daily, and to teach it to all who would listen. Eventually the true faith won out over the heretics. Dominic is often erroneously credited with the invention of the Rosary, but the Rosary predated his life. It had been prayed long before his birth by those who could not read, as a substitute for reading and praying the Psalms.
Through St. Dominic and Blessed Alan, it is a widely accepted belief that our Blessed Mother Mary granted fifteen promises to all those who recite the Rosary:
1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary will be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. Those who recommend themselves to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an un-provided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death, the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
Legend says that Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the Faith. Dominic met the beggar the next day, and he embraced him saying, “You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.” The beggar was Saint Francis of Assisi.
Quote:
“A man who governs his passions is master of his world. We must either command them or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.” – Saint Dominic
Based on: The Franciscan Book of Saints,
ed. by Marion Habig, ofm.,
© 1959 Franciscan Herald Press
(From http://www.franciscan-sfo.org website)
Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) Rule #8 of 26:
As Jesus was the true worshipper of the Father, so let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do.
Let them participate in the sacramental life of the Church, above all the Eucharist.
Let them join in liturgical prayer in one of the forms proposed by the Church, reliving the mysteries of the life of Christ.
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