Category Archives: Weekdays

‘I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin.’

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Friends in Christ, today Our Lord is saying to the Pharisees that he is going away, and that after he is gone, they will realize what they have done, and they will discover their mistake too late.

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It is true that some who crucified the Lord later realized their mistake and turned to Him and become followers of Christ. But for many, they were hardened in their heart – to their grave.

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William Barclay tells us that Our Lord’s words call to mind three things about our human life:

First, there are certain opportunities which come and which do not return. Every person is given the opportunity in this life to decide for Christ or not. But it is an opportunity that can be refused and lost.

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In speaking as he does, Jesus is also implying that life and time are limited. No one has all the time in the world. No one has unlimited life; therefore it is within that allotted time that we must make this decision for Christ or not. No one knows how much time he has.

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Finally, just as we have an opportunity to choose the Lord in this life, there is also in the end, Judgment. The lost opportunity involves an unfavorable Judgment, and the greater was the opportunity that we had, the greater the time we had, or the more graces we were given – the greater the Judgement will be, if it these opportunities were refused.

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‘I am going away, and you will search for me, and you will die in your sin.’ Jesus Christ gives each person enough time and enough opportunities to choose him in this life; but the time and the opportunities are limited.

Friends in Christ,

the Book of Wisdom speaks today of how evil people react when goodness is placed in their midst. The result is often envy. This is the sin that prompts bullies in the school to harass good children, and it is the sin that led to the crucifixion of Our Lord.

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It is no coincidence that it is the central sin of the devil, who having thrown away his own salvation, seeks to destroy the most precious thing of God’s: His people. As St. Paul says, it is through the envy of the devil, that death entered the world.

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What are the types of envy? Well, when we see another have something good, or an honor, or receive a compliment – we can envy – we wish to surpass them, in honor or reputation, and that person becomes our rival. Notice that we don’t envy those who are far above us; we never feel threatened or consider as a rival, the governor or a senator, because we could not surpass them.

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But those who are close to us, our colleagues and peers, these are the ones we are tempted to envy. We wish to be thought more honorable than our peers. Therefore, those who love honors are easily envious. Those who are cowardly and weak, they too can easily become envious, because to them all things achieved seem great.

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Sometimes the old envy the young, and those who have worked hard to achieve something, envy those who have done it with less effort.

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The most sinful form of envy is spiritual envy. we feel sadness because another person is closer to Christ or has found peace in their life. This is the envy of the devil and of the Chief priests who crucified Christ. Thomas Aquinas considers spiritual envy to be a sin against the Holy Spirit.

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Now envy is a capital sin, also called a deadly sin. Why? Because from it springs a multitude of others sins and evils. The offspring of envy are many. By envy we plan to lower another’s reputation, and this leads to gossip, detraction, ridicule, and ultimately hatred which could lead to violence.

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Now if, in seeing what another has achieved or acquired, we are inspired to work at achieving the same, that is not envy, but rather zeal, because the person is not a rival but an inspiration to us. Charity rejoices in our neighbor’s success, while envy is sad over our neighbor’s success. So let us leave envy to small minds, and instead work hard to achieve what we can, and rejoice in our neighbor’s success.

Friends in Christ, we see today in the Gospel, this Royal Official who seeks out the help of Christ to heal his son. This is a man who is very important, in Greek, he is a basilikos, which could even be a petty king. But he is a royal official of great standing for sure.

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Christ Jesus was then known as the son of Joseph the carpenter, and Jesus surely did work that trade. Also, in the scene today, Christ is at Cana, which is nearly 20 miles away from where that royal official lived. So this important official travels 20 miles to beg the help of a poor carpenter in Cana!

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It would have been a scandal to those who saw this – this aristocrat swallowing his pride and humbly seeking such a poor man’s help. But he did not care what others thought; he wanted the help of Christ for his son, and he believe in Jesus.

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There are sometimes today, very well-known, popular and powerful people in this world, who are Catholics, and who nevertheless humble themselves and go to Mass on Sundays, and go to Confession to kneel and confess their sins. There are not many, but there are some such people These people, like this royal official who seeks out Christ who are undeterred by what others might say – this is an inspiration. We should imitate this.

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God has lowered himself from his Infinite Power of heaven to descend to – to unite himself to – our lowly, sweaty, dirty, sinful humanity. If God has done this for us, we must never be embarrassed to let others see our unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.

Friends in Christ, today the Lord gives us this example of the Pharisee whose prayer is really nothing but showing off, there is no sincerity in it at all. Such hypocrisy doesn’t fool God.

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Those who lack any real character or virtue sometimes simulate what they lack – they practice hypocrisy. These persons however, are actually very weak; instead of working to be virtuous, they try to promote a good reputation by mere outward show, hoping to receive respect or praise that they do not deserve.

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All hypocrisy is at least a venial sin, but it can be mortal. Our Lord today strongly warns against pretending to have sincere faith, while really twisting the Gospel of Christ. The Pharisees that he describes, pretended to be men of prayer, but they were leading the people away from real religion.

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If a Catholic leader or bishop or priest puts himself forth as a teacher of the Faith, but actually leads people into error or false doctrine – this is where hypocrisy becomes mortal sin.

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Hypocrisy is also a mortal sin if a person is supposed to be a role model, like a parent or coach, but who justify their sinful behavior to those under their charge. This is the case in which Jesus says it would be better if they were drown in the sea with a millstone tied around their neck. Parents for example who do not go to Mass, and when their child asks why, they reply ‘It isn’t necessary.’

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Hypocrisy is also a grave sin if a false front is presented in order to manipulate or dominate others, or use them for some selfish goal.

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Hypocrisy can be a venial sin; for example if a person feigns goodness to avoid distressing loved ones, or to avoid disgrace for one’s sins of weakness.

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It is not hypocritical for a parent or a priest to teach the true moral life even though they often fail themselves, but the person should teach with humility, aware of his or her own sins.

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In the Holy Gospel, Jesus makes it clear, that rather than being fake or pretentious, God wants our humility. Our sincerity.

Everyone who exalts himself will ultimately be humbled when the truth is revealed at judgment, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted on judgment day.

Friends in Christ, the ancient scribes often expanded the Law to include many details, but they also tried to sum up the law in one sentence or phrase. Today Jesus does just that; he sums up the spirit of the Christian life by saying: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love of God and love of neighbor.

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The great spiritual writers will tell us that one of the most important ways that we love God, is by trying to be aware of him all day, of ‘maintaining this sense of the presence of God.’

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There are times when we pray, for sure. But we also wish to cultivate this presence of God in our daily doings.

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Before his conversion, St. Augustine was trying to find God in so many external things; but as he says, he finally found the Lord, within himself. We can speak to Our Father in heaven any time, he hears our slightest whisper and our most secret thought, as Teresa of Avila said. (See How to Pray Always, p. 107)

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She goes on to say, ‘those who are able to have this presence of God, are walking on an excellent road, and they will drink from the fountain of life’

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If we can cultivate this awareness of the Lord all day, that he is with us, everything will change. St. Teresa says, when once a person acquires this recollection, he would not exchange it for all the treasures of the world.

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God is living in us, and we can speak to him and love him. But he lives also in our neighbor; in our neighbor, he is living or wishes to live. It is as if people are living tabernacles of God’s presence.

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A young mother who is busy with her children should not say, ‘For me, union with God is not possible.’ She is surrounded with tabernacles, with little temples of the Holy Spirit! Her little ones are baptized? Then God is living in them.

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Our work-mates, the foreman, the customers, the boss – they are, or are potentially – bearers of Christ. Each of them is a child of God with a divine destiny, therefore if we love God we will love our neighbor.

Friends in Christ, back in the 4th century in the city of Antioch there lived a woman named Pelagia. Pelagia was the most famous actress of that city, with many admirers; she lived a scandalous life, and she was considered a harlot. no one ever stopped talking about her.

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One day, the holy bishop Nonnus was with some other bishops, when they saw, riding by on the street, Pelagia. She was dressed in a provocative manner, with many fans following her.

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Seeing this, Nonnus said, ‘brothers, how many hours a day does this woman spend on making herself beautiful to please her admirers, and yet Christians spend such a small amount of time and effort to make their soul pleasing to Christ Jesus. She promises to please her lovers, but haven’t we promised to please God?

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Later that day, Nonnus knelt and prayed with all his might for Pelagia.

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When Sunday arrived, the Bishop spoke a homily at Mass about the Last Judgment, and the need to seek God’s mercy. Now it happened that the Lord had guided to that Church, none other than Pelagia, the Actress. Never before had she entered the house of God and never before had she even thought of her sins; but suddenly her heart was pierced with God’s love.

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Her tears flowed in such a flood that she could not control them. She threw herself on the floor and holding the feet of the bishop said: ‘I beg you Father, pour out on me your goodness and make me a Christian. All the people were amazed and said that they had never before seen such faith as in this harlot.

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Pelagia DID change her life. She left for Jerusalem and there became a hermit dedicated to a life of prayer, and many miracles accompanied her until her death. She is now called, ‘St. Pelagia.’

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Friends, today Jeremiah warns us to change our ways. To turn from sin. And the Psalmist says to us: ‘If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart.’  We are being called ourselves, to reform our life during Lent.

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The first part of Lent emphasizes repentance, conversion of life, atoning for our sins. The 2^nd part of Lent will bring our minds to contemplate all that the Lord Jesus has done for us in his Passion.

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Now is the time for us to listen to that voice, that quiet voice of our conscience, and listen to what the Lord is asking us to give him this Lent. ‘If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart.’

Friends in Christ, today Our Lord tells us that he came, not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. St. Thomas Aquinas says (tour of Summa, p. 171) that the Old Law was meant to repress passion and prevent sin, yet it could not give the grace that one needs to reach heaven. The needed grace and power to attain holiness came with the New Law, which is the Law of Christ.

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The Old Law CAN refer to the 10 commandments, which are requirements in the moral life. Jesus told the rich young man that to be saved, he had to keep the commandments.’ The moral law, given by the commandments, could never be abolished, but it has been raised to an even higher level of love by Christ.

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The Old Law can also refer to the ceremonials and rituals of the Old Testament – in particular circumcision – and these are no longer essential. Circumcision was merely a sign of God’s covenant; but the New Law has fewer rituals and gives real power. Circumcision was replaced with Baptism, which is not a mere sign, but confers the power of grace – enabling one to actually live the commandments.

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St. Paul says that the Old Law was like a teacher for children, guiding the human race along in preparation for Christ. (Galatians 3:24) As we know, children usually act simply out of obedience and rules. But when grown up, they are to learn to do what is right out of love.

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Some adults continue to see the moral life as simply following rules. They ask, ‘Is this a mortal sin?’ Upon hearing ‘it is not a mortal sin,’ they will happily commit it. Such a person is trying to follow rules, rather than loving God. A person who is living the Law of Christ, seeks to be holy in all things – not simply ‘stay within the rules.’ We are living the Law of grace when we act out of a desire to please our Heavenly Father.

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Even Catholics must be careful not to fall into a mindset of the Old Law – of simply following rules, rather than loving God and neighbor. Young people sometimes ask, ‘How far can I go on a date?’ But this is to see morality as following rules. The virtue of chastity does not ask ‘how close to sin can I get,’ the virtue of chastity wants to always be pure and good in order to please God.

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During this season of Lent, we can’t help but consider the sins and mistakes of our life; but the New Law of grace gives us hope, because we can begin again, and do all our actions for the glory to God.

Friends in Christ, as we move toward the half-way point in Lent, we are given this gospel today about God’s mercy, about forgiveness.

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Because of our sins, which offend the infinite goodness of God, we acquire a debt that we cannot possibly pay; if we could see with supernatural eyes the goodness of God, we would die of horror at even our small sins, not to mention our mortal sins.

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Jesus teaches us that God WILL forgive our sins, even this great debt – but we must forgive others too. ‘If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you.

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St. Peter asks Christ, ‘how many times must I forgive someone?’ He suggests to Jesus, ‘maybe 7 times, we should forgive them?’ It was Rabbinic teaching that a man must forgiven his brother three times. Rabbi Jose ben Jehuda said, ‘If a man commits an offense once, forgive him; if he commits it a second time, forgive him; if he commits it a third time, forgive him, if he commits it a fourth time, do not forgive.’ So Peter thought he was being generous. He takes the Rabbinic teaching and doubles it, and adds an extra; but Jesus’ answer is that the Christian must forgiven 70 times 7 times, meaning: there is no limit.

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So Jesus tells this parable; I think it is unfortunate, that in this english translation, they have left out the numerical amounts, which are presenting the Greek. In the parable, the first servant owed his master 10,000 talents. That was over 10 million dollars. William Barclay tells us that at the time of Christ, even a wealthy province like Galilee had a total revenue of only 300 talents! Yet this servant’s enormous debt is forgiven by is master. This is the debt we owe to God, and he will forgive it in the Blood of Christ.

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Yet this man in the parable refuses to forgive the tiny debt that his fellow servant owed him, 100 denarii, about twenty bucks. If we seek God’s mercy, we ourselves must be merciful, and how can we live, without the mercy of God?

Friends in Christ, today our Lord explains the story of the poor man Lazarus, and the rich man. One goes to heaven, the other to hell. The rich man in hell, as we see, has many regrets.

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It is true, that for the person who has neglected his salvation, at his death, he will feel many regrets of all the wasted time. (See Preparation for Death, St. Alphonsus, p. 84) Friends who visit him, who perhaps even sinned with him, will be reminders of the kind of life he led.

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The dying man will think: ‘I could have led a life of happiness in the grace of God.’ And when will he think these things? When the lamp is going out, when the flame of life is nearly extinguished: What would he not give for even one more month, to prove his love for God.

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But for the person who tried to love the Lord in this life – for this one, death is very sweet. The person with Faith in Jesus Christ – at his death, he will feel peace.

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At her death, St. Teresa was so happy, that she rejoiced every time she heard the clock strike the hour, closer to death. In her moment of death, St. Catherine of Sienna was heard to say: ‘Rejoice with me, for I leave to go to the place of peace.’ St. Bruno says, the death of the just should not be called death, but life.

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Those who live a bad life, nearly always will have a bad death. The man who loves sin in his life, will rarely ever repent at the end. St. Robert Bellarmine says that he once went to a dying man, and told him he had come to hear his Confession. But the man did not even know what Confession was. ‘Father, I do not understand what you are saying. St. Augustine says, the person who forgot God during life, will forget him in the end.

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But the friends of God will welcome death. St. Charles Borromeo had a picture in the house he had moved into, a picture of the grim reaper with a sickle in his hand coming at death – seeing this, he sent for a painter and ordered him to erase the sickle, and to paint instead a golden key; a reminder that death is the key that opens Paradise.

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We still have time. Lent is a time to turn from our sins, and walk again as children of the Light, and thereby not be afraid in the least of the day of our death.