TODAYS REFLECTION 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME TUES NOV 15 ( Rv 3:1-6,14-22, Lk 19:1-10)

TODAYS REFLECTION 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME TUES NOV 15 ( Rv 3:1-6, 14-22, Lk 19 :1-10 )

WHEN WE ARE BEEN JUDGED AND REJECTED AS SINNERS, JESUS SEES US AS DESERVING MERCY AND FORGIVENESS OH WHAT AN AWESOME GOD!!

Dearest friends, reflecting on todays gospel i come to understand that nobody in the “practicing” Jewish community gave Zacchaeus a chance, he was a sinner and that was that. Jesus saw Zacchaeus as a human being deserving of love, sympathy and mercy and invited himself to his house so that Zacchaeus’ life would be transformed. What joy Zacchaeus had at receiving this invitation from our Lord. There are three things to note in this encounter.

As a tax collector He saw himself as unworthy of Jesus’ compassion. But Jesus came precisely for the sinner. Therefore, truth be told, Zacchaeus was the perfect “candidate” for the mercy and compassion of Jesus. Second, when Zacchaeus witnessed that Jesus came to him and selected him out of everyone present to be the one to spend time with, he was overjoyed! The same must be true with us. Jesus does pick us and He does want to be with us. If we allow ourselves to see this, the natural result will be joy.

Third, as a result of Jesus’ compassion, Zacchaeus changed his life. He committed to giving half his possessions to the poor and to repay four times over anyone he had previously cheated. This is a sign that Zacchaeus began to discover true riches. Reflect, today, upon Zacchaeus and see yourself in his person. You, too, are a sinner. But God’s compassion is far more powerful than any sin. May we allow the gift of His mercy to produce mercy and compassion in our own lives for others. Be blessed.

Don’t Be Accountants of the Spirit,’ Pope Tells Priests

‘Don’t Be Accountants of the Spirit,’ Pope Tells Priests

During Mass for Sacred Heart of Jesus, Francis Tells Clergy to Dirty Hands, Forget Timetables, Don’t Think of ‘Overtime’

JUNE 3, 2016
DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOVJUBILEES AND SPECIAL YEARS, PAPAL TEXTS
Www.zenith.org

Priests are to forget themselves, and their timetables, and ask themselves constantly whether their hearts are directed toward the Lord.

Pope Francis stressed this during Holy Mass for the Sacred Heart of Jesus this morning in St. Peter’s Square, which also concluded the Jubilee for Priests, June 1-3.

This Jubilee celebration on this solemn feast day, the Pope noted, invites us all to turn to the heart, the core of each person, contemplating two in particular: the Heart of the Good Shepherd and our own heart as priests.

The Heart of the Good Shepherd, Francis explained is not only the Heart that shows us mercy, but is itself mercy. It is where the Father’s love shines forth and demonstrates that God loves us beyond our sins and limitations. In contemplating the Heart of Christ, the Jesuit Pope continued, clergy are faced with the fundamental question of their priestly life: Where is my heart directed?

In the midst of the plans, projects, and activities filling priestly ministry, Francis stressed, “It’s a question that we priests must ask ourselves many times every day, every week: Where my heart is directed?”

What’s distancing us …

“There are weaknesses and sins in all of us,” the Pope deviated from his script to say. “But let’s go deeper, to the roots: Where is the root of our weaknesses, our sins, that is to say what precisely is that ‘treasure’ that distances us from the Lord?”

The great riches of the Heart of Jesus are two: the Father and ourselves, the Pope explained, noting Jesus’ days were divided between prayer to the Father and encountering people. Similarly, Francis compared, priests’ hearts are to embrace two “directions”: the Lord and His people.

Since the priest’s heart is pierced by the Love of God, Francis underscored, “He should no longer look at himself.”

“It is no longer ‘a fluttering heart,’ allured by momentary whims, shunning disagreements and seeking petty satisfactions. Rather, it is a heart rooted firmly in the Lord, warmed by the Holy Spirit, open and available to our brothers and sisters.”

The Pope then gave the priests three tools to help them imitate the Good Shepherd: seeking out, including and rejoicing.

Seek out

The Pope recalled that the prophet Ezekiel reminds us that God himself goes out in search of his sheep.

“Without delaying, he leaves the pasture and his regular workday,” without worrying “about overtime,” Francis said. “He does not put off the search. He does not think: ‘I have done enough for today; I’ll worry about it tomorrow.’”

“Instead,” Francis said, “he immediately sets to it; his heart is anxious until he finds that one lost sheep. Having found it, he forgets his weariness and puts the sheep on his shoulders, fully content.”

Not an Accountant of the Spirit

“A shepherd after the heart of God has a heart sufficiently free to set aside his own concerns. He does not live by calculating his gains or how long he has worked: he is not an accountant of the Spirit, but a Good Samaritan who seeks out those in need.”

The Pope stressed that priests are shepherds to their flock, not “inspectors,” and must not devote themselves “50 or 60 percent to the mission,” but instead, “with all they have.”

“Woe to the shepherds who privatize their ministry!” he said, noting, “a heart that seeks out does not set aside times and spaces as private, a heart that is not jealous of its legitimate quiet time and never demands that it be left alone.”

This heart takes risks to imitate the Lord, and doesn’t worry about protecting its comfort zone, Francis said.

Include

Christ loves and knows His sheep, Francis stressed, noting how He gives His life for them.

“He is not a boss to be feared by his flock, but a shepherd who walks alongside them and calls them by name (cf. Jn 10:3-4). He wants to gather the sheep that are not yet of his fold (cf.Jn 10:16). So it is also with the priest of Christ. He is anointed for his people, not to choose his own projects but to be close to the real men and women whom God has entrusted to him.”

A priest, the Argentine Pope said, must be ready to “dirty his hands,” without worrying about gloves.

Rejoice

God is “full of joy,” the Pope reminded the clergy gathered, which stems from forgiveness and mercy. “The joy of Jesus the Good Shepherd is not a joy for himself alone, but a joy for others and with others, the true joy of love. This is also the joy of the priest. He is changed by the mercy that he freely gives.”

“In prayer he discovers God’s consolation and realizes that nothing is more powerful than his love. He thus experiences inner peace, and is happy to be a channel of mercy, to bring men and women closer to the Heart of God.”

The Pope concluded, inviting the priests to rediscover their identity as shepherds each day.

Mercy Isn’t a Way of Life, But the Way of Life, Says Pope in Final Meditation for Priests...

Mercy Isn’t a Way of Life, But the Way of Life, Says Pope in Final Meditation for Priests...

Calls priests to learn to have a father’s gaze

JUNE 2, 2016
KATHLEEN NAAB
POPE AND HOLY SEE
Www.zenith.org

Being merciful, and especially for a priest, is not about doing isolated acts of mercy. Being merciful, instead, is not only “a way of life”, but “the way of life”. There is no other way of being a priest.

This was part of the reflection that Pope Francis offered in his final meditation this afternoon for the Jubilee of priests and seminarians.

The final meditation was titled “The Good Odor of Christ and the Light of His Mercy,” and he gave it at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls at 4 pm

It followed on the two earlier meditations the Holy Father gave, starting in St. John Lateran at 10 a.m., and then at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore at noon.

In the lengthy meditation, that was both reflective and practical, the Pontiff considered facets of Jesus’ mercy as seen in the Gospels, particularly in consideration of the woman caught in adultery.

His talk emphasized that each of us, priests as well, are the poor ones in need of mercy.

“In the Church we have, and have always had, our sins and failings. But when it comes to serving the poor by the works of mercy, as a Church we have always followed the promptings of the Spirit. Our saints did this in quite creative and effective ways. Love for the poor has been the sign, the light that draws people to give glory to the Father,” he observed.

The Pope exhorted the priests to learn from their seminary days to have the heart of a father.

“To see needs and to bring immediate relief, and even more, to anticipate those needs: this is the mark of a father’s gaze,” he said. “This priestly gaze – which takes the place of the father in the heart of Mother Church – makes us see people with the eyes of mercy. It has to be learned from seminary on, and it must enrich all our pastoral plans and projects. We desire, and we ask the Lord to give us, a gaze capable of discerning the signs of the times, to know ‘what works of mercy our people need today’ in order to feel and savour the God of history who walks among them.”

Confessors

Speaking specifically of the sacrament of confession, Pope Francis reminded the priests that they are signs and instruments.

As signs, they have to be effective and attractive, that is, inviting people to the encounter with God through confession.

As well, they mustn’t be self-referential. A sign doesn’t exist for itself, he pointed out, but is meant to lead beyond itself.

Finally, priests have to be available.

“In my country,” the Pope recounted, “there was a great confessor, Father Cullen. He would sit in the confessional and do one of two things: he would repair worn soccer balls for the local kids, or he would thumb through a big Chinese dictionary. He used to say that when people saw him doing such completely useless things like fixing old soccer balls or trying to master Chinese, they would think: ‘I’m going to go up and talk to this priest, since he obviously doesn’t have much to do!’ He was available for what was essential. He got rid of the obstacle of always looking busy and serious.”

The Pope also offered two bits of practical advice to the priests as confessors: never look like a bureaucrat or a judge, and don’t be curious.

Culture of mercy

Pope Francis exhorted the priests to create a “culture of mercy.”

“Once we begin, we sense immediately that the Spirit energizes and sustains these works,” he said. “He does this by using the signs and instruments he wants, even if at times they do not appear to be the most suitable ones.”

TODAYS REFLECTION, MEMORIAL OF ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY FRI MAY 27

TODAYS REFLECTION, MEMORIAL OF ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY  FRI MAY 27 ( 1Pt 4:7-13, Mk 11:11-26 )

#FAITHFULNESSANDFORGIVENESNOURISHESOURPRAYERS#

Friends, through the story about the fig tree today, Jesus teaches us about faithfulness, love and forgiveness. Jesus says that he chose us from the world and appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last for all eternity (Jn 15:16). He also teaches us against the faithlessness of those who rejected his message. For faith to be fruitful and productive, it must be nourished with the word of God (2 Tim 3:16; Col 3:16) and be rooted in love (Gal 5:6).

Jesus did not see any fruitful, good works happening in the temple area, because the money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right, in essence, He “sweeps” through the temple cleaning up all the ungodly behaviour and tells us that his house, the temple, is to be a house of prayer for all people.

Further Jesus highlights one of the greatest obstacles to a healthy prayer life as lack of forgiveness. When we come to Christ, in prayer, we need to first cleanse our hearts if we are to hear Him speak. Jesus wants us to forgive others as the Father forgives us and to love one another. The apostle Peter urges us to let our love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins (1Pt 4:9). St. Augustine, whose feast day we celebrate today says “Since love grows within us, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.”

Beloved, reflect, today upon whether you want to grow in prayer. If you do, then start by cleansing your heart of all sin. Confession is the best way to do this. May Help us to forgive others just as He has been merciful towards us and has forgiven us. May St Augustine pray for us. Have a blessed weekend and Be blessed.

SAINT OF THE DAY MAY 27 ( Saint Augustine of Canterbury ) pray for us.

Saint Augustine of Canterbury

Also known as
• Apostle to the Anglo-Saxons
• Apostle to the English
• Austin of Canterbury

Profile

Monk and abbot of Saint Andrew's abbey in Rome, Italy. Sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including Saint Lawrence of Canterbury to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying tales of the Celts sent him back to Rome in fear, but Gregory told him he had no choice, and so he went. He established and spread the faith throughout England; one of his earliest converts was King AEthelberht who brought 10,000 of his people into the Church. Ordained as a bishop in Gaul (modern France) by the archbishop of Arles. First Archbishop of Canterbury, England. Helped re-establish contact between the Celtic and Latin churches, though he could not establish his desired uniformity of liturgy and practices between them. Worked with Saint Justus of Canterbury. Anglican Archbishops of Canterbury are still referred to as occupying the Chair of Augustine.

Born

at Rome, Italy

Died

• 26 May 605 in Canterbury, England of natural causes
• relics interred outside the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Canterbury, a building project he had started

Patronage

England

Representation

bishop baptizing a king.

SAINTS OF THE DAY MAY 21 ( MARTYRS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION ) May they pray for us.

MARTYRS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION

Profile

The 1917 Mexican constitution was pointedly anti-clerical and anti-Church, and its adoption instituted years of violent religious persecution including expulsion of foreign priests, closing of parochial schools, and the murders of several priests and lay leaders who work to minister to the faithful and support religious freedom. 25 of them who died at different times and places but all as a result of this persecution were celebrated together. They each have separate memorials, but are also remembered as a group.

• Saint Agustin Caloca Cortes
• Saint Atilano Cruz Alvarado
• Saint Cristobal Magallanes Jara
• Saint David Galván-Bermúdez
• Saint David Roldán-Lara
• Saint David Uribe-Velasco
• Saint Jenaro Sánchez DelGadillo
• Saint Jesús Méndez-Montoya
• Saint Jose Isabel Flores Varela
• Saint José María Robles Hurtado
• Saint Julio álvarez Mendoza
• Saint Justino Orona Madrigal
• Saint Luis Batiz Sainz
• Saint Manuel Moralez
• Saint Margarito Flores-García
• Saint Mateo Correa-Magallanes
• Saint Miguel de la Mora
• Saint Pedro de Jesús Maldonado-Lucero
• Saint Pedro Esqueda Ramírez
• Saint Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán
• Saint Roman Adame Rosales
• Saint Sabas Reyes Salazar
• Saint Salvador Lara Puente
• Saint Toribio Romo González
• Saint Tranquilino Ubiarco Robles

Venerated

7 March 1992 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

22 November 1992 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized

21 May 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME SAT MAY 21

TODAYS REFLECTION 7TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME SAT MAY 21 ( Jas 5:13-20, Mk 10:13-16 )

#THROUGHPRAYERANDSIMPLICITYSHOWLOVEANDWELCOMEONEANOTHER#

In todays first reading St James asks us questions and also gives us the answer,    Are you suffering?  Pray.  Are you cheerful?  Pray.  Are you sick?  Pray.  This is what we are told, making praying the ultimate solutions to our problems and a way of acheiving success in our lifes. He however, invites us to a deeper level in our exploration of and commitment to prayer. This reading points also to the importance of the sacrament of annoting of the sick administered by the priests.

In the gospel Jesus used the example of children to explain the way that we must accept the Kingdom of God. We must accept it as a child would. Not with skepticism or doubt, but with openness, joy and simplicity. But this passage above also reveals another subtle truth. It reveals the natural and healthy affection we must have for others.

Today Jesus rebuked his disciples for hindering the children from coming to saying, “Let the children come to me.” It goes on, “Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.” These passages reveal to us the holy, natural and healthy affection that Jesus had for these children and for all of us, and also demonstrated that God's love has ample room for everyone. He comes to each person individually that he might touch us with his healing love and power.

May through simplicity, kindness and humility we show love to one another as Jesus has taught us today and continue to pass on the faith. Be blessed as we are united in prayers.