31st Week: Nov 1-6:
Nov 1 Monday (All Saints Day): Mt 5:1-12: (Not a Holy Day of Obligation in the USA) The feast and its objectives: All baptized Christians who have died and are now with God in glory are considered saints.
Reasons why we honor the saints: 1- The saints put
their trust in Christ and lived heroic lives of Faith. St. Paul asks us to
serve and honor such noble souls. In Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians, to
Philip, and to Timothy, Christians are advised to welcome, serve, and honor
those who have put their trust in Jesus, for, as Jesus remarks to Philip at the
Last Supper, ”Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” So, whoever believes in,
trusts loves, and serves Jesus, at the same time believes in, trusts, loves and serves the Father as well. The saints enjoy Heavenly bliss as a reward for
their Faith in Jesus. Hence, they deserve our veneration of them. 2- The saints
are our role models. They teach us by their lives that Christ’s holy life of
love, mercy, and unconditional forgiveness can be lived by ordinary people from
all walks of life and at all times.
3- The saints are our Heavenly mediators who
intercede for us before Jesus, the only mediator between God and us. (Jas
5:16-18, Ex 32:13, Jer 15:1, Rv 8:3-4,).
4- The saints are the
instruments that God uses to work miracles at present, just as He used
the staff of Moses (Ex), the bones of the prophet Elisha (2Kgs 13:21), the
towel of Paul (Acts: 19:12), and the shadow of Peter (Acts 5:15,) to work
miracles.
Life messages: 1) We need to accept the challenge
to become saints. Jesus exhorts us: “Be made perfect as your Heavenly Father
is Perfect” (Mt 5:48). St. Augustine asked: “If she and he can
become saints, why can’t I?” (Si iste et ista,
cur nonego?).
2) We can take the shortcuts practiced by three
Teresas: i) St. Teresa of Avila: Recharge your spiritual batteries
every day by prayer, namely, listening to God and talking to Him) St.
Therese of Lisieux: Convert every action into prayer by offering it to God
for His glory and for the salvation of souls and by doing God’s will to the
best of one’s ability. iii) St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother
Teresa): Do ordinary things with great love. Additional reflections:
Nov 2 Tuesday: Jn 6: 37-40: (All Souls Day): All
Souls’ Day is a day specially set apart that we may remember and pray for our
dear ones who have gone for their eternal reward, and who are currently in a
state of ongoing purification.
An ancient belief supported by Church tradition: People
of all religions have believed in the immortality of the soul and have prayed
for the dead:
1) The Jews, for example, believed that there was a place of
temporary bondage from which the souls of the dead would receive their final
release. The Jewish catechism, Talmud, states that prayers for
the dead will help to bring them greater rewards and
blessings too. Prayer for the souls of the departed is retained by the Orthodox
Jews today, who recite a prayer known as the Mourner’s Kaddish for
eleven months after the death of a loved one so that he/she may be purified.
2) First-century practice: Jesus and the apostles shared
this belief and passed it on to the early Church. “Remember us who have
gone before you, in your prayers,” is a petition often found inscribed
on the walls of the Roman catacombs (Lumen Gentium-50).
3) The liturgies of the Mass in various rites dating from
the early centuries of the Church include “Prayers for the Dead.”
4) The early Fathers of the Church encouraged this
practice. Tertullian (AD 160-240) wrote about the anniversary
Masses for the dead, advising widows to pray for their husbands. St.
Augustine (AD 354 – 430) remarked that he used to pray for
his deceased mother, remembering her request: “When I die, bury me
anywhere you like, but remember to pray for me at the altar” (St. Augustine of
Hippo, Confessions, Book 9, Chapter 11, Section 27).
5) The Synods of Nicaea, Florence, and Trent encouraged the
offering of prayers for the dead, citing Scriptural evidences to prove that
there is a place or state of purification for those who die with venial sins on
their souls.
Theological reasoning: According to Rv 21:27: “…nothing
unclean shall enter Heaven.” Holy Scripture (Prv 24:16) also teaches that
even “the just sin seven times a day.” Since it would be
contrary to the mercy of God to punish such souls with venial sins in Hell,
they are seen as entering a place or state of purification, called Purgatory,
which combines God’s justice with His mercy. This teaching is also contained in
the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.
Biblical basis: 1) II Mc 12:46 is the main
Biblical text incorporating the Jewish belief in the necessity of prayer and
sacrifice for the dead. The passage (II Mc 12:39-46), describes how Judas, the
military commander, “took up a collection from all his men, totaling about
four pounds of silver and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering” (II
Mc 12:43). The narrator continues, “If he had not believed that the dead
would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for
them.” 2) St. Paul seems to have shared this traditional Jewish belief. At
the death of his supporter Onesiphorus, he prayed: “May the Lord grant him
mercy on that Day” (II Tim: 1:18). Other pertinent Bible texts: Mt
12:32, I Cor 3:15, Zec13:19, Sir 7:33.) The Church’s teaching: The
Church’s official teaching on Purgatory is plain and simple. There is a place
or state of purification called Purgatory, where souls undergoing
purification can be helped by the prayers of the faithful (Council of Trent).
Some modern theologians suggest that the fire of Purgatory is an intense,
transforming encounter with Jesus Christ and His Fire of Love. They also speak
of Purgatory as an “instant” purification immediately after death, varying in
intensity from soul to soul, depending on the state of each individual.
How do we help the “holy souls”? The Catechism
of the Catholic Church recommends prayer for the dead in conjunction
with the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice and encourages “almsgiving,
indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead” (CCC
#1032). Let us not forget to pray for our dear departed, have Masses
offered for them, visit their graves, and make daily sacrifices for them. God
can foresee and apply the merits of our prayers, penances, and works of
charity, done even years after their death, in favor of our deceased dear ones
at the moment of their deaths. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/21
Nov 3 Wednesday (St. Martin De Porres, Religious)
The context: Jesus was making his final journey
to Jerusalem, and both the apostles and the common people, thought that the
Master was going to overthrow the Roman government by using miraculous powers.
Hence, a big crowd was following along. Jesus thought it was necessary to
clarify for them the real cost involved in Christian discipleship.
The teaching: Today’s Gospel passage from Luke challenges us
to make a total commitment to the will of God by putting Him first in our
lives. Jesus reminds us to count the cost of being a Christian because the
cost is high. Christian discipleship requires one to “renounce” both
possessions of the earth and possessions of the heart (i.e., one’s
relationships). Jesus lays out four “tripwires” challenging true Christian
discipleship: i) attachment to family; ii) attachment to possessions; iii) the
hard consequences of discipleship which may involve even losing one’s life; and
iv) the cost involved. Using the examples of a watchtower in a vineyard left
uncompleted due to lack of funds, and the example of a foolish king facing
defeat by going to war without assessing the strength of the enemy, Jesus warns
his would-be followers to count the cost and calculate the consequences before
becoming disciples.
Life messages: 1) We need to accept Jesus’
challenge of making a total self-gift to Him in our commitment in true
Christian Discipleship: “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing and
suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” (Martin Luther). Jesus’ challenge can be
accepted only if, with God’s grace, we practice the spirit of detachment and
renunciation in our daily lives. Real Christian discipleship also demands a
true commitment both to the duties entrusted to us and to loving acts of
selfless, humble, sacrificial love offered to God in all His children around
us. 3) This is possible only if we rely on His grace, on the power of prayer
and on the guidance of the Holy Spirit through a) daily prayer, b) devout
participation in the Sunday Mass c) diligent study of the Bible, d) service in
and beyond the parish, e) spiritual friendships, and f) giving time, talents,
and resources to the Lord’s work. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
L/21
Nov 4 Thursday (St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop):
The context: Today’s Gospel passage, taken from
chapter 15 of Luke’s Gospel, is known as the “Gospel in the Gospels,” or
the “distilled essence of Christ’s Good News.” In this chapter,
using three parables, Jesus answers two accusations made by the Scribes and
Pharisees, namely, that Jesus is mingling with the sinners and sharing their
meals. These parables teach us that our God is a loving, patient, merciful, and
forgiving God. He is eager to be merciful toward us, not vengeful and
punishing. He is always in search of His lost and straying children.
The parables: Since the self-righteous Pharisees
who accused Jesus of befriending publicans and sinners could not believe that
God would be delighted at the conversion of sinners, Jesus told them the
parable of the lost sheep and the shepherd’s joy on its discovery; the parable
of the lost silver coin (a drachma, worth about a denarius, a farm worker’s
“daily wage”), and the woman’s joy when she found it; and the parable of the
lost son and his Father’s joy at His repentant son’s return. Besides presenting
a God Who is patiently waiting for the return of sinners, ready to pardon them,
these parables teach us God’s infinite love and mercy. Christianity is not
about a man seeking God, but rather about a Holy God seeking a sinful man. In
other words, in salvation, as in forgiveness, the initiative is always God’s.
These three parables defend Jesus’ alliance with sinners and respond to the
criticism leveled by certain Pharisees and scribes at Jesus’ frequent practice
of eating with and welcoming tax collectors and sinners.
Life messages: 1) We need to meet the challenge
for self-evaluation and return to God’s mercy: If we have been in sin, God’s
mercy is seeking us, searching for our souls with a love that is wild beyond
all imagining. God is ready to receive and welcome us back as Jesus welcomed
sinners in his time. 2) Let us get reconciled with God, through the Sacrament
of Reconciliation when we are in mortal sin, and in asking His forgiveness for
our sins every night before we sleep. We also need to ask God for the courage
to extend this forgiveness to others who have offended us. As we continue with
the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us pray as well for God’s Divine Mercy on
those who have fallen away from grace. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
L/21
Nov 5 Friday:
The context: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us
the strange parable of a steward who was a rascal to teach us that serving God
is a full-time job, not a part-time job or a spare-time hobby. Jesus also
teaches us that, in matters spiritual and eternal, we should use the same
ingenuity and planning which businesspeople show in the business world. The
parable challenges us to use our blessings — time, talents, health, and wealth
— wisely and shrewdly, so that they will count for our reward in eternity. We
are on the right road only if we use our earthly wealth to attain our Heavenly
goal. The parable: In the parable, Jesus tells us how the slave-steward of an
absentee landlord, caught red-handed in misappropriating his master’s wealth,
ingeniously cheated his master by his unjust manipulation of the master’s
business clients. His tricks were intended to make him the friend of his
master’s debtors and gave him the prospect of becoming rich by working for them
(or blackmailing them?) when he was fired by his master from the stewardship.
Life messages: 1) We need to be faithful in the
little things of life: As Saint John Chrysostom said, “Faithfulness in little
things is a big thing.” Our future opportunities in the eternal service of God
largely depend on our stewardship in handling the little opportunities we have
had on earth. As Mother Teresa used to recommend, “Do little things with great
love.” 2) We have to act shrewdly, trusting in the power and assistance of God.
Let us make use of our resources — like Hope in God’s justice, Faith in God’s
assistance, and Trust in God’s grace, celebrating the Mass and the Sacraments
as sources of Divine grace and prayerfully studying the Holy Bible as the word
of God for daily meditation. 3) Let us remember that as God’s stewards we need
to be prepared to give an account of our lives at any time (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
L/21
Nov 6 Saturday:
The context: After telling the parable of the
rascally steward as an example of shrewdness and as a warning against using
unjust means for gain, Jesus advises his listeners to make friends with the
poor by almsgiving and to be faithful and honest in the little things entrusted
to them by God.
The teaching: Jesus advises his followers to imitate the
shrewd steward who used money generously to make friends for himself. Jesus
suggests that his disciples should show their generosity and mercy by
almsgiving: “sell your possessions and give alms” (Luke 12:33). The
recipients immediately become friends of the kind donor. It is God’s generosity
that makes one rich, and, hence, the money we have is unrighteous in
the sense that it is unearned and undeserved. So, God expects us to be generous
stewards of His generous blessings. Generosity curtails our natural greed,
making almsgiving an act of thanksgiving to God for His generosity. Then Jesus
tells us that what we get in Heaven will depend on how we have used the things
of the earth and on how faithful we have been in the little things entrusted to
us. A slave is the exclusive property of his master, and our Master, God, is
the most exclusive of masters. So, serving Him cannot be a part-time job or
spare-time hobby; it is a full-time job. Finally, Jesus warns the Pharisees that
material prosperity is not a sure sign of one’s goodness and God’s blessing,
but a sign of God’s mercy and generosity.
Life messages: 1) We need to share our blessings
with others. Since all our blessings are God’s generous loans to us, we need to
be equally generous with others. 2) We need to serve God full-time: Since God
owns us totally, we are expected to be at His service doing His holy will all
the time. Hence, there is no such thing as a part-time Christian. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
