Aug 12
Monday Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious]: Matthew 17:22-27: 22 As they were gathering in
Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands
of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And
they were greatly distressed. 24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of
the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the
tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first,
saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth
take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he
said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However,
not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first
fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take
that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” (nil in other gospels)
The
context: The first
part of today’s Gospel gives Jesus’ second prediction of his sufferings, death
and Resurrection. The second part is Jesus’ explanation of why he pays the
Temple tax. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus’ disciples were “distressed” by
their master’s repeated reminders of his coming shameful death as a heretic and
lawbreaker. They were distressed because the reminders shattered their dream of
ruling Israel after Jesus had conquered the Romans and reestablished the
Davidic kingdom. They did not understand that their master would be dying to
liberate the whole of mankind from the bondage of sin. In the second part of
today’s Gospel, Peter assures the Temple tax officials that his master, Jesus,
is a devout Jew and, hence, pays the Temple tax. All Jewish males 20
years old or older had to pay a half-shekel (roughly equivalent to two days’
wages), as Temple tax for the upkeep of the Temple and its sacrifices. When
they reached Peter’s home, Jesus instructed Peter to go fishing, open the mouth
of the first fish he caught and, with the coin he would find there, pay both
Peter’s and his own tax. Jesus’ reason was that he wanted them to give a good
example to others, even though, as the Son of God, Jesus was legally exempted
from paying any type of tax to anyone. The Gospel passage foreshadows a dilemma
that would be experienced by the first century Jewish Christians as to whether
or not they should continue to pay the Temple tax meant for the Jews.
Life
messages: 1) Let us
express our gratitude to Jesus our Savior for the price of suffering and death
he paid for our sins. We can do this by avoiding all occasions of sins, by
offering our pains and sufferings as atonement for our sins and by helping
others sacrificially. 2) We should obey the laws of the Church and of our
country as loyal Christians and loyal citizens and contribute to the needs of
the Church and its mission by our tithing, while we help the government by
paying our taxes. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Aug 13
Tuesday Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs]: Matthew 18:
1-5, 10, 12-14: 1
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of
them, 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself
like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever
receives one such child in my name receives me; 10 “See that you do not despise
one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always
behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.12 What do you think? If a man
has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the
ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went
astray? 13 ..14
The
context: Chapter 18
of Matthew’s Gospel is a “discourse on the Church,” giving leaders of the
Church instructions for administration. Jesus’ apostles shared the Jewish hope
that the Messiah would be a political ruler, and that they would hold important
portfolios in the Messianic kingdom. Hence, in today’s passage (vv 1-5), Jesus
warned his apostles and the future hierarchy of his Church against the natural
human tendencies to pride and ambition. He exhorted the spiritual leaders, as
well as all believers in responsible positions, to be humble, trusting and
innocent – that is, to be like children. The additional parable of the shepherd
rejoicing at the recovery of his lost sheep tells us that our Heavenly Father
is very particular that His little ones should not perish due to our
negligence.
Child-like
qualities: Children are basically innocent and honest. They are naturally
humble because they depend on their parents for everything. They trust and obey
their parents because they know their parents love them. Hence, Jesus advises
his disciples to forget their selfish ambitions and, with trusting Faith in a
loving and providing God, to spend their lives serving others in all humility.
Then they will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Life
Messages: 1) We
need to practice humility in thoughts, words and actions. “Learn from me for
I am meek and humble of heart.” “What is the essential thing in the
religion and discipline of Jesus Christ?” St. Augustine asks, and then
responds, “I shall reply: first humility, second humility and third humility.”
2) We should not seek recognition and recompense for the service we do for
Christ and the Church as parents, teachers, pastors etc. 3) Trusting Faith
resulting from true humility is essential for all corporal and spiritual works
of mercy. 4) Since children reflect the innocence, purity, simplicity and
tenderness of our Lord, and since they are each given the protection of a
guardian angel, we are to love them, train them and take care not to give
scandal to them. 5) We need to try to treat everyone with love and respect
because, “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd
leading him to life,” (St. Basil) CCC # 336. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Aug 14
Wednesday (Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, Memorial: Mt 18: 15-20: 15 “If your brother sins against
you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens
to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or
two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of
two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to
you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about
anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For
where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
The
context: The first
part of today’s Gospel is one of the difficult passages in Matthew’s Gospel to
interpret. Many Bible commentators think that Jesus never said these things,
that probably they were a later addition by the Church because 1) there was no
organized Church at that time, 2) Jesus never considered a sinner as a hopeless
case, and 3) Jesus loved Gentiles and tax collectors.
The real
meaning: What Jesus actually meant was, “Do whatever you can to make the guilty
person realize and confess his fault, thus helping him to repair the damage he
or she has done to his or her personal and communal relationships.” Jesus seems
to suggest the following steps to repair a broken personal relationship: 1)
One-on-one encounter: If you are sure that somebody has wronged you, tell him
lovingly and politely that he has hurt you. 2) The group encounter: If the
first step does not work, meet him again in the company of two or three wise
and honorable persons and try to make the culprit realize what he has done
wrong. 3) Parish encounter: If steps one and two do not work, bring his case to
the pastor or to the parish council or the Christian fellowship. 4) Leave him
to Lord’s mercy: If the culprit remains stubborn, like a Gentile or proud tax
collector, continue to pray for him and leave him to God’s mercy.
Life
message: 1) Let us
have the good will and generosity to accept our mistakes and ask pardon and
forgiveness from the offended victim. Let us also learn to forgive and forget
the offenses done against us (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Aug 15
Thursday (THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY): We honor Mary, venerate
her, express our love for her and never worship her. Why do we honor Mary: 1) Mary herself gives the most
important reason in her “Magnificat:” “All generations (ages) will call me
blessed because the “The Mighty One has done great things for me”
a) by choosing Mary as the mother of Jesus, b) by filling her with His
Holy Spirit twice, namely at the Annunciation and at Pentecost, c) by making
her “full of grace” at her Immaculate Conception, the paragon or embodiment of
all virtues, and d) by allowing her to become the most active participant with
Christ, her Son, in our Redemption, by suffering in mind, heart, and soul what
Jesus suffered in body. 2) Mary is our Heavenly Mother. Jesus
gave us his Mother as our Mother from the cross: “Woman, behold your son.” …
“Behold your mother” (John 19:26-27). 3) Mary is the supreme model of
all virtues and hence our role model, especially holiness of life (“full
of grace”), obedience to the will of God (“fiat”) and true humility (“Behold
the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me as you have said”).
Reasons
why we believe in the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary: Pope Pius XII, in the November 1,
1950 papal document Munificentimus Deus, gives four reasons why we
believe in the Dogma of Assumption of Mary. 1) the uninterrupted tradition
about Mary’s death and Assumption starting from the first century; 2) the
belief expressed in all the ancient liturgies of the Church; 3) the negative
evidence of the absence and veneration of a tomb of Mary while most of the
apostles have their tombs; 4) the possibility of bodily assumption warranted in
the Old Testament in the cases of Enoch (Gn 5:24), perhaps Moses (Dt 34:5), and
especially Elijah (II Kgs 2:1), and 5) the theological reasons: a) The
degeneration of the body after death is the consequence of “original sin,” and
Mary, as “immaculately conceived,” is exempted from the post-mortem decay of
the body. b) As receiver of the fullness of grace and holiness because she is
mother of Jesus and co-redeemer with Him, Mary’s place is with her son, God’s
Son Jesus, the Redeemer, in the abode of holiness, Heaven.
Life
messages: 1) As
Mary’s Assumption was a reward for a holy life, this feast invites us to keep
our bodies pure and holy. Paul gives three additional reasons: a) our bodies
are the temples of the Holy Spirit, b) our body parts are the members of
Christ’s Body, and c) our bodies are to be glorified on the day of the Last
Judgment.
2) We are
given an assurance of hope in our resurrection and a source of inspiration
during moments of despair and temptations.
3) We
receive a message of total liberation from all our bondages: impure, unjust and
uncharitable thoughts, desires, words, actions, and addiction to evil habits,
drugs, alcohol and gambling, pornography and sexual aberrations. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Aug 16
Friday [Saint Stephen of Hungary]: Mt 19:3-12: 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him
by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered,
“Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and
female, 5 and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are
no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not
man put asunder.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a
certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “For your
hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the
beginning it was not so. 9.” 10.. 12
Jesus’
explanation of a Mosaic sanction: Jesus explains that Moses’ permission for divorce was only a temporary
concession which was meant to control the growing rate of divorce in his own
time by introducing a law governing divorce. Jesus adds that it was
because of the hard-heartedness of the Jewish men that Moses allowed such a
concession. By denying the man’s right to divorce, Jesus places the
husband and wife on an equal footing in marriage and teaches that no
Mosaic regulation dealing with a temporary situation can alter the permanency
and unity of marriage.
Jesus’
clear teaching on divorce: Jesus reminds us that his doctrine
goes back to the original intention of God. Citing the book of Genesis,
Jesus says that God made us male and female and commanded that “the two
shall become one flesh.” He then draws the conclusion that “they
are no longer two, but one body” – partners with equal rights – and
he declares that no man is allowed to separate what God has joined together (Mt
19:6).
Catholic
teaching: Based on
the NT teachings given in Mk 10:1-12, Mt 5:31-32; Mt 19:3-9; Lk 16:18; and 1
Cor 7:10-11, the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a Sacrament involving
both a sacred and legal contract between a man and a woman and, at the same
time, a special Covenant with the Lord. “Divorce is also a
grave offense against the natural law. Besides, it claims to break
the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other
till death…… Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into
the family and into society” (CCC #2384, #2385).
Life
messages: 1) Let us
keep all the families of our parish in our daily prayers, that the spouses may
have a mutual understanding and appreciation of each other, the willingness to
ask pardon and give pardon, the generosity to forgive and forget, and the good
will to serve each other, because all these virtues help to make a marriage
permanent. 2) Let us also pray for all the divorced in the parish and welcome
them as active members of the parish, both those who have remained single and
those who have remarried without annulment. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Aug 17
Saturday (BVM): Mt 19:13-15: 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them
and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; 14 but Jesus said, “Let the
children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of
heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
The
context: Today’s
Gospel passage describes one of the loveliest incidents in the Gospel
story. Jewish mothers used to bring their children to great rabbis to
have them pray over the little ones, especially on their first birthday.
Naturally, mothers wanted the healing touch and blessing of the most popular rabbi,
Jesus. In an attempt to protect their master from the crowd of mothers
and noisy children, the apostles started rebuking them. The passage
describes Jesus’ reaction and teaching.
Childlike
qualities for entrance into Heaven: By showing his displeasure at the
rough reaction of his apostles, Jesus made it clear that everyone is equally
important to him as a child of God. The mothers came to Jesus because he
was welcoming, warm and approachable. Jesus decided to use the occasion
as a teachable moment. He taught his disciples that entry into Heaven
demands the childlike qualities of humility, innocence, obedience, simplicity,
openness, teachability, freedom from prejudice, readiness for change and
adaptation, total trust in a loving and providing God, confidence in the
essential goodness of people and the readiness to forgive and
forget. Only such people are ready to hear the message of the Gospel in its
fullness and accept it.
Life
messages: 1) Let us
live in the awareness that we are the children of a loving and providing
Heavenly Father and that, by Baptism, we are members of God’s family.
Hence, we are expected to behave well every day, as worthy children of a Holy
Father.
2) Let us
pray for all the children in our families and for all our young parishioners
and let us find time to cooperate in the parish ministries meant for children
and young people. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19