VIII Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

No one can serve two masters

It seems that the words of Christ in today's Gospel are not for the contemporary world. "Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will be wearing. Consider the birds ..." Does Jesus approve the idleness by this, does He really favour famous "blue birds " and "children flowers ", does He suggest the laziness, and support irresponsible people, counting on the "manna from heaven"? You can easily come to this conclusion by reading the words of today's Gospel only briefly and superficially. But we know that it is not so. He was (supposedly) the son of a craftsman and certainly knew very well how hard you have to work for "daily bread" and that in the sweat of your brow one should acquire the necessary measures to life. Certainly He doesn’t approve idleness and procrastination, irresponsibility and lack of creativity.

However, He warns us against the specific attention to the worldly goods, against the blindness of greediness, against the error of considering that my whole life is reduced to only these material dimensions. Are these warnings not for today? Let's see how many people so much "progressed" in their "resourcefulness", how they forgot everything else, that for them the whole life is summarized in securing worldly prosperity and well-being, even at the expense of others, at the expense of social justice at the expense of ordinary honesty. Whenever I read these words, I think of those who have forgotten that they live next to other people, that the world is beautiful and worthy of admiration and delight of those who have been blinded by so much "mammon" they see nothing else beyond money. They do not see their own family, children, friendship, eternal life, nothing else but money.

Does not want Jesus in these parables simply say: "You're not unhappy because starvation or because you are missing something, but because you requirements are for a large. Stop to amass and seek to collect what is secondary, and you'll definitely be happier"?

Does He not want to say also: "Trust in God rather than in your capabilities, systems, cleverness and your wealth, and you'll be much happier"?

I read somewhere once that, for example 260 richest people in the world have on their accounts as much as the annual income of three billion poorest, more that the poorer half of the world. What are they doing with the "mammon"? Is it not shocking? Is not that what Christ is talking about?

I recently found also this information: "The poor children in India, China and Pakistan, are sewing by hand the soccer balls for the big companies". These children cannot go to school, they have no toys, no childhood, but ..... their slave labor makes kind the lives of millions of other sports fans even unaware of this injustice. And as if that were not enough, according to UNESCO to provide schools for all the poor children in the world we need only $8 billion annually. At the same time to prepare the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi 50 billion dollars were spend. Again, some people cannot even dream of school, when others spend a fortune on their pleasure.

But do we need to go that far. Let us look around us, our society, our systems and our lives. How much injustice is in it, how much blindness of mammon, how much selfishness and egoism, and arrogance....?

The "Mammon" blinded the world completely and Christ warns us before we fall in that blindness. He warns us also against quieting our conscience: "I still have to take care of myself and my family. I cannot feed all the hungry of the world. I have to ensure first my life and the life of my kids and then I'll be able to think about others' needs ..." Is it not an infatuation? The parable of the rich man and Lazarus imposes itself ... And the words of Jesus: "whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine ... you did it to me …" remain valid.

Lord do not let the mammon blind me so much that I don’t see the world and another people in it ...

Do not let me forget about your kingdom...

Because eventually.... whom I serve....?

Catholics (???) disagree with the teaching of the Church or with Christ?

Worldwide poll of Catholics shows disagreement with Church on abortion, marriage, contraception ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A worldwide poll of self-described Catholics shows significant disagreement with Catholic doctrine among many Church members.

In a poll commissioned by the Spanish television station Univision, majorities of 12,038 Catholics in 12 countries expressed beliefs against Catholic doctrine on issues like abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and contraceptive use. The Church opposes all three.

According to the poll, while Pope Francis received 87 percent approval, 57 percent of Catholics thought abortion should be legal “in some cases,” with nine percent declaring support any time. Seventy-eight percent of respondents support contraception use, 66 percent back same-sex “marriage,” and 51 percent believe women should be priests.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents believe divorce and remarriage outside of the Church means a person is living in sin, and 47 percent believe priests should be allowed to marry.

The poll was taken in nine languages and on five continents. Univision says the 12 countries in which those polled live “represent 61% of the world’s Catholic population.”

From - LifeSiteNews.com

Comment ...

A long period of the poor catechesis is one of the elements. Pope Benedict was very strong about this once during the "ad limina" of American bishops in 2008 and later with French bishops.

But also this what is known as "American sexual revolution" of the '60, what was the effect of the sociological depression caused by the infamous war in Viet Nam. If we add to this a natural tendency of the human nature to look for what is easy and less demanding, the effect of the "supermarket society", very bad reception of the Vatican II, very week priestly formation, worldwide individualism, strong and very intelligent pressure of the satanic forces, weakness of the bishops and lack of the spirit of sacrifice, lack of prayer, and even the total "reorientation" of the theology of the Eucharist from Jesus Sacrifice to "community oriented meetings" .... we can see the effects and rather mournful scene all over the world.

I know, I sound like Michael Voris or Jeremiah ... but I strongly agree that the first and the most important thing which has to be done, is the correct and humble diagnosis. There is not a realistic possibility of healing without serious diagnosis. .

This is why I think that Your catechesis, Biblical Studies, pastoral activities in the parish are as much important as my preaching, and this is why I encourage You to continue it with sincerity and zeal. . The reality cannot be transformed by Pope, or even the College of cardinals, but by faithful and honest, courageous and sincere Catholics. Because this is the Church of Christ, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ.

AMEN
God bless You, and OREMUS PRO INVICEM, let us pray mutually.

VII Sunday in Ordinary Time -Year A

 Be perfect …

 Today’s Gospel continues the considerations made by Christ on the preceding Sunday. Using the same scheme, Jesus teaches his disciples, confronting the law of the Old Testament with the law of the New Covenant. This is an extended talk about the commandment of love. Love of God can not be true, if not carried out every day in the love of neighbor. And love is neither sentimental nor emotional, but very specific and demanding. What’s more, it is – or should be – universal love. There is no longer – as in the Old Testament – the distinction between neighbor and stranger, friend and enemy. They are all should be seen as brothers. To all I am obliged to show respect. Everyone is entitled to my help and kindness, to the loving and fair treatment, “Give to him who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” These words are difficult, and we know ourselves, how it is sometimes very demanding this commandment. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It is so hard for us to implement every day the requirements of Jesus, it is so difficult to be understanding and cordial, kind and forgiving those who “persecute us” and tease us. Moreover, the only reason for such practices, the universal charity is the perfection “at the measurement” of the to perfection of God the Father. Christ does not promise any reward for it on the earth, as it was in the Old Testament, “so you may live long and wealthy your life …“. The only reward is eternal life, what seems to be so far and sometimes distant and unrealistic for us …

The commandments are not to limit our freedom but to help us to become perfect, saint. God would like to have all of us in Heaven and this is why He tries to help us to get there.

 It is easy to write about it and discuss, it is easy to teach others and to give a good advice. But how to introduce the practice of this commandment in my own life ? How not to judge and condemn hastily, how to not deliver a condemning judgments, how to forgive “seventy times seven“? How not to get frustrated as you do not see regrets, how to not carry resentment in your heart? How not to look for my own interest and did not constantly prove that I am right? How to love EVERYONE as God loves him? Would or could it even be possible? … Maybe only under certain conditions? Maybe only if the neighbor changes to accepted my point of view, stops teasing me, shows a little bit of remorse, or good will to … etc., etc. . .. Maybe I will be able to show him some kindness?

 But just unconditionally and equally … without any reservations and preconditions … No! it is impossible, it is after all synonymous with naivety, it is to exposing myself to the blows and hits ….

 “Do not resist evil, if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also … ” No, it’s so difficult, it’s impossible, it is naive and contrary to common sense …

 But did I ever tried just follow this? Did I tried to not give evil for evil, but overcome evil with good? The radicalism of the Gospel, the requirements of the Master are unusual, and yet are not unrealistic and impossible. As many before me have tried and … showed that it is possible! They were the saints … and my vocation is to become saint!

VI Sunday in Ordinary Time ...

The shortest homily for the VI Sunday in Ordinary Time ...

Gospel:

Mt 5:17-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, 
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife -  unless the marriage is unlawful - 
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one.”

And the homily from:   http://www.joyfultoons.com/

The Vatican Survey

“The normal Catholic in the parish might hear a sermon on abortion once a year. They’ll never hear a sermon on homosexuality or gay marriage. They’ll never hear a sermon about contraception.”                            Cardinal O’Malley

Yes your Emminency ... 
Yes, it's true ... and what are the effects of this 'prudent" silence?

The effect is the Church's free fall .... the collapse of the faith which is shown by the results of the Vatican survey ... 

Where are we going ????

Free fall ...

“The normal Catholic in the parish might hear a sermon on abortion once a year. They’ll never hear a sermon on homosexuality or gay marriage. They’ll never hear a sermon about contraception.”

Cardinal O’Malley

Yes your Emminency ... Yes, it's true ... and what are the effects of this silence?
The effect is the Church's free fall .... the collapse of the faith which is shown by the results of the Vatican survay ... 

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V Sunday in the Year A

Light and salt

We are told that as Christians we are to be hidden and not get out, do not flaunt our faith, our beliefs, our piety and religiosity. The world wants us to close our belief in the four walls of the church, to silence, to break down our lives in two parts: the life on every day, which should be a-religious and the life on holidays and on Sundays. The whole modern world is trying to prove to us that faith is the backwardness, the Middle Ages, something to be ashamed of, what you should not show or flaunt. He proves that the state, society, daily life, school, learning, work, leisure, entertainment, everything in our lives is to be a-religious, secular, not involving our religious convictions and believes. Example? Statement by the Prime Minister of France at the Conference of the Laeken European Union, about the secularist ion of life in Europe. And what does it in the end mean? Nothing else like sentencing religion in exile, proving that religion is something completely personal and embarrassing, showing that the believer, is the second or even third social category.

And the answer of Christ to such attempts-in today's Gospel: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds" - not beautiful words and bombastic marches and processions, but your good deeds! It's not about bigotry and fanaticism, nor a religious fundamentalism, but bright and clear testimony. Do not be ashamed to be believer, a witness to Christ. Our life is not and should not be a-religious, devoid of religion and morality, but it just should be soaked and saturated with Christ. Our lives should be holy, good and religious. We are to be the salt of the earth, for that world, laundered of religion, of morality and feelings. We have to be a light shining brightly and not smoldering and smoky candle. Salt that has lost its flavor is suitable only for disposal. Candle, which does not give you the light is not anymore useful.

How to believe today to be truly the salt of this world?

How to believe today, to be a light to the world in his dark, to be bright and clear point?

Catholic Church ...

We need to give up the silly attitude that if we can make people cry or sing loudly or feel like they are having an out of body experience that we can show them the faith.  Hollywood can accomplish all those things – and does, very well. The Church needs to appeal to the mind – be prepared to give people a reason – A REASON, not a feeling, for our hope.

Catholic and the rest of the world ...