Author: diocesan-sharon

All In With Jesus / Entregando Todo a Jesús

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God is present in all we do and gives us little gifts when we least expect it. I try to pick either the first or the nineteenth of every month to write for and I do not look up the readings beforehand; I trust the Holy Spirit will inspire me. The first reading today is from Revelation and it contains my life goal based on Revelation 3:16. My goal is to live “not lukewarm.”  In an effort to remember this goal it is tattooed on my leg and is the name of my podcast, website, and business. What does it mean to live in a manner that is not lukewarm and why is it important to do so?

Let me answer why first. We are called to live out our Christian life giving our all to Christ. Zacchaeus is ready to be all in when he encounters Jesus. Zacchaeus who is short and eager to please is thrilled Jesus picked his house to visit. The story of Zacchaeus is one of my favorites. Here is a man who has lived mostly for himself and his own fulfillment, who changes his life when Jesus calls him. And he promises Jesus he is not going to change his life just a little, but four times over. He is not lukewarm!

Jesus says he will spit the people of Laodicea out of his mouth because they are not hot or cold. The image is powerful and slightly distasteful. Jesus spitting? It certainly brings home the point that we are to be hot or cold, not on the fence or straddling a line, trying to please God and the world simultaneously. Living not lukewarm, giving our yes wholeheartedly and without reservation is how we are called to live for Christ. A lukewarm Christian is not what is needed today.

What does it mean to live this way? It means to be all in with Jesus no matter what, in all the areas of our lives. It means our faith informs our decisions in our work, relationships, and recreation. What do we do with our free time? Do we serve others in need and share our time and money? What books and movies do we entertain ourselves with? Do we share the Gospel with others?  Do we live our faith each and every day or only when it is convenient or easy for us?

As we approach a new liturgical year in December, it is a good time to take stock of how we are living our faith. None of us is perfect. We need the help of God, the Church, and the sacraments. Revelation 3:16 does not have to be your life verse, but I encourage you to try your best to live not lukewarm!

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Dios está presente en todo lo que hacemos y nos da pequeños regalos cuando menos lo esperamos. Intento elegir el primero o el diecinueve de cada mes para escribir y no leo las lecturas de antemano; confío en que el Espíritu Santo me inspire. La primera lectura de hoy es del Apocalipsis y contiene la meta de mi vida basada en el Apocalipsis 3,16. Mi meta es vivir “no tibio”. En un esfuerzo por recordar este objetivo, está tatuado en mi pierna y es el nombre de mi podcast, página web y negocio. ¿Qué significa vivir de una manera que no sea tibia y por qué es importante hacerlo?

Déjame responder por qué primero. Estamos llamados a vivir nuestra vida cristiana entregándolo todo a Cristo. Zaqueo está listo para darlo todo cuando se encuentra con Jesús. Zaqueo, que es bajito y está ansioso por complacer, está emocionado de que Jesús haya elegido ir a visitar su casa. La historia de Zaqueo es una de mis favoritas. Aquí tenemos a un hombre que ha vivido principalmente para sí mismo y su propia realización, que cambia su vida cuando Jesús lo llama. Y le promete a Jesús que no va a cambiar su vida solamente un poquito, sino multiplicado por cuatro. ¡No es tibio!

Jesús dice que escupirá a la gente de Laodicea de su boca porque no son calientes ni fríos. La imagen es poderosa y algo desagradable. ¿Jesús va a escupir? Sin duda, nos hace comprender que debemos ser calientes o fríos, no estar en la cerca o en una línea, tratando de agradar a Dios y al mundo simultáneamente. Vivir no tibios, dar nuestro sí de todo corazón y sin reservas es como estamos llamados a vivir para Cristo. Un cristiano tibio no es lo que se necesita hoy en día.

¿Qué significa vivir de esta manera? Significa estar completamente con Jesús sin importar lo que pase, en todas las áreas de la vida. Significa que la fe informa nuestras decisiones en el trabajo, las relaciones y la recreación. ¿Qué hacemos con el tiempo libre? ¿Servimos a los necesitados y compartimos nuestro tiempo y dinero? ¿Con qué libros y películas nos entretenemos? ¿Compartimos el Evangelio con los demás? ¿Vivimos la fe todos los días o solo cuando nos resulta conveniente o fácil?

Al acercarnos a un año litúrgico nuevo en diciembre, es buen momento para analizar cómo estamos viviendo la fe. Ninguno de nosotros es perfecto. Necesitamos la ayuda de Dios, la Iglesia y los sacramentos. El Apocalipsis 3,16 no tiene que ser el versículo de tu vida, ¡pero te animo a que hagas todo lo posible por no vivir de una forma tibia!

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Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The LiveNotLukewarm.com online community is a place to inform, engage and inspire your Catholic faith. Her weekly Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.

Feature Image Credit: Kevin Young, unsplash.com/photos/woman-walking-under-tree-during-daytime-Z5qD8T3wVvk

St. Raphael Kalinowski

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St. Raphael Kalinowski

Feast date: Nov 19

Saint Raphael was born  in 1835 as Joseph, son of Andrew and Josepha Kalinowski in present day Lithuania. Saint Raphael felt a call to the priesthood early in his life, but decided to complete his education. He studied zoology, chemistry, agriculture, and apiculture at the Institute of Agronomy in Hory Horki, Russia, and at the Academy of Military Engineering in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Saint Raphael became a Lieutenant in the Russian Military Engineering Corps in 1857. During his post he was responsible for the planning and supervised construction of the railway between Kursk and Odessa. He was promoted to captain in 1862 and stationed in Brest-Litovsk. In Bret-Litovsk he started, taught, and covered all the costs of a Sunday school, accepting anyone interested.

In 1863 he supported the Polish insurrection. He resigned from the Russian army and became the rebellion’s minister of war for the Vilna region. He only took the commission with the understanding that he would never hand out a death sentence nor execute a prisoner. He was soon arrested by Russian authorities, and in June of 1864 he was condemned to death for his part in the revolt. Fearing they would be creating a political martyr, they commuted his sentence to ten years of forced labour in the Siberian salt mines. Part of his sentence was spent in Irkutsk, where his relics have been moved to sanctify the new cathedral.

Upon his release in 1873, he was exiled from his home region in Lithuania. He moved to Paris, France, and worked there as a tutor for three years. In 1877 he finally answered the long-heard call to the religious life, and joined the Carmelite Order at Graz, Austria, taking the name Raphael. He studied theology in Hungary and then joined the Carmelite house in Czama, Poland. He was ordained on January 15, 1882.

Saint Raphael worked to restore the Discalced Carmelites to Poland, and for church unity. He founded a convent at Wadowice, Poland in 1889, and worked alongside Blessed Alphonsus Mary Marurek. He was a noted spiritual director for both Catholics and Orthodox. He was considered  an enthusiastic parish priest and spent countless hours with his parishioners in the confessional. Saint Raphael died in 1907 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1991.

Source: Catholic-forum.com

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

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Reading 1 RV 3:1-6, 14-22

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this:

“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God
and the seven stars says this: “I know your works,
that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die,
for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief,
and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.
However, you have a few people in Sardis
who have not soiled their garments;
they will walk with me dressed in white,
because they are worthy.“‘

The victor will thus be dressed in white,
and I will never erase his name from the book of life
but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father
and of his angels.

“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”“

“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:

“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the source of God’s creation, says this:
“I know your works;
I know that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of my mouth.
For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’
and yet do not realize that you are wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich,
and white garments to put on
so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed,
and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise.
Be earnest, therefore, and repent.

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne,
as I myself first won the victory
and sit with my Father on his throne.

“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
 

Responsorial Psalm PS 15:2-3A, 3BC-4AB, 5

R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

 

 

Alleluia 1 JN 4:10B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God loved us, and sent his Son
as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature. 
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, 
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.” 
And he came down quickly and received him with joy. 
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, 
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” 
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. 
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The Gift of Sight / El Don de Poder Ver

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“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” the blind man of Jericho calls out when he hears the commotion of Jesus coming near. What exactly is he asking? The dictionary says “pity” is a sympathetic sorrow for someone in distress. Is he asking Jesus to feel sorry for him? I don’t think so, and based on Jesus’ response, I don’t think Jesus thought so either. “What do you want me to do for you?” That is more of a response to “Jesus, help me.” Luke tells us the blind man’s reply: “Lord, please let me see.” 

Those five little words pack a powerful statement. First, an affirmation of faith: “Lord.” Jesus isn’t just some popular guy with a crowd of fans, the blind man has decided. He is Lord, which is the word Jews used for God instead of His unspeakable name. 

“Please.” The blind man humbles himself; he comes from a place of humility. It is not a prideful demand or an act of self-importance. It is, indeed, a plea. 

“Let me.” The blind man acknowledges that what he asks is Jesus’ choice. He can do it or not. But it’s also a statement of faith that what he asks, Jesus can, in fact, do. The blind man does not doubt.  

“See.” As readers of the Gospel we might assume that since the man is blind, he is asking for his vision to be restored. But, if we go back to the dictionary, we find that vision is just one definition of seeing. It also means knowing, understanding, or figuring it out. 

In that light, the blind man’s reply is more like, “Jesus, truly sent from God, I beg you, if you would, allow me to understand.” Jesus grants him his request, but notice the wording: “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” Jesus doesn’t say vision either. 

Perhaps Jesus is talking about the same kind of sight mentioned in today’s first reading from Revelation. The Church in Ephesus is acknowledged for its ability to tell right from wrong, apostles from impostors. The faithful are commended for their works, their endurance, and their suffering. They see clearly the path they should be on.

Ah, but that is only part of the story. “I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first.” They are admonished for how far they have fallen and urged to repent and love the way they first loved. Again, think of the blind man: He gained his sight, became a follower of Jesus, and gave glory to God. 

This gift of sight is given to us, too. We can see — that is, we can figure out or understand — that Jesus is the son of God, we can choose to follow Him and give glory to God. And we can remember, too, that following and giving glory means that we can love with the love we had at first. And of course, the love we had at first was — and is — that glorious love that God has had for us since the beginning. 

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“¡Jesús, Hijo de David, ten compasión de mí!” grita el ciego de Jericó cuando oye el alboroto de Jesús acercándose. ¿Qué está pidiendo precisamente? El diccionario dice que “compasión” es un dolor compasivo por alguien que está afligido. ¿Le está pidiendo a Jesús que sienta pena por él? No creo, y basándome en la respuesta de Jesús, no creo que Él lo vio de esa forma tampoco. “¿Qué quieres que haga por ti?” Eso es más bien una respuesta a “Jesús, ayúdame”. Lucas nos cuenta la respuesta del ciego: “Señor, por favor, déjame ver”.

Esas cinco palabras encierran una declaración poderosa. Primero, una afirmación de fe: “Señor”. El ciego ha decidido que Jesús no es solo un hombre popular con una multitud de hinchas. Es el Señor, la palabra que los judíos utilizaban para Dios en lugar de Su nombre indecible.

“Por favor”. El ciego se humilla; viene de un lugar de humildad. No es una exigencia orgullosa ni un acto de presunción. Es, en efecto, una súplica.

“Déjame”. El ciego reconoce que lo que pide es decisión de Jesús. Puede hacerlo o no. Pero también es una declaración de fe. Sabe que Jesús puede, de hecho, hacer lo que le pide. El ciego no duda.

“Ver”. Como lectores del Evangelio, podríamos suponer que, dado que el hombre es ciego, está pidiendo que se le reponga la visión. Pero, si volvemos al diccionario, encontramos que la visión es solo una definición de ver. También significa saber, entender o descifrar.

Desde esa perspectiva, la respuesta del ciego es más bien: “Jesús, verdaderamente enviado de Dios, te ruego que me dejes entender”. Jesús le concede su petición, pero fíjate en las palabras: “Recobra la vista; tu fe te ha curado”. Jesús tampoco dice visión.

Tal vez Jesús esté hablando del mismo tipo de vista que se menciona en la primera lectura de hoy del Apocalipsis. La Iglesia de Éfeso es reconocida por su capacidad de distinguir el bien del mal, a los apóstoles de los impostores. Los fieles son elogiados por sus obras, su resistencia y su sufrimiento. Ven claramente el camino que deben seguir.

Ah, pero eso es sólo una parte de la historia. “Pero tengo en contra tuya que ya no tienes el mismo amor que al principio.” Se les amonesta por lo lejos que han caído y se les insta a arrepentirse y amar como amaron al principio. De nuevo, pensemos en el ciego: recuperó la vista, se convirtió en seguidor de Jesús y dio gloria a Dios.

Este don de la vista también se nos da a nosotros. Podemos ver, es decir, podemos averiguar o entender, que Jesús es el hijo de Dios, podemos elegir seguirlo y dar gloria a Dios. Y podemos recordar, también, que seguirlo y dar gloria significa que podemos amar con el amor que teníamos al principio. Y, por supuesto, el amor que teníamos al principio era, y es, ese amor glorioso que Dios ha tenido por nosotros desde el principio.

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Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.

Feature Image Credit: Dom Aguiar, unsplash.com/photos/woman-looking-towards-left-S5qnIk98CWk

Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul

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Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul

Feast date: Nov 18

This feast celebrates the dedications of two of the four major basilicas of Rome.

Saint Peter’s Basilica was originally built in 323 by the emperor Constantine.  The basilica was constructed over the tomb of Peter the Apostle, the Church’s first Pope.  After standing for more than a thousand years, Pope Julius II ordered the building to be torn down due to structural concerns.  The construction of the new church spanned over 200 years before its completion. It was dedicated on Nov. 18, 1626.  It is considered the most famous church in Christendom.

Saint Paul´s Basilica is located outside the original walls of Rome. It was also originally built by the emperor Constantine though it was destroyed by fire in 1823. Donations from around the world made the reconstruction possible. Before the completion of Saint Peter´s Basilica, St Paul’s was the largest church in Rome.  The Basilica was built over St. Paul´s grave.  Pope Pius IX consecrated the Basilica in 1854.

These two churches continue to draw millions of faithful pilgrims each year as well as many visitors from other faiths .

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

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St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

Feast date: Nov 18

St. Rose was born into a family with wealth and political connections August 29, 1769 in Grenoble, France. Her father, Pierre Francois Duchesne, was a lawyer, businessman, and prominent civic leader in Grenoble, while her mother, Rose Perier, was a member of a leading family from the Dauphine region. From the young age of eight, St. Rose had a desire to evangelize in the Americas, sparked by hearing a Jesuit missionary speak of his work there. She received a basic education at home from tutors, and religious education from her mother.

Educated from age 12 at the convent of the Visitation nuns in Grenoble, Rose joined them in 1788 at age 19 without the permission or knowledge of her family. Initially they were violently opposed to her choice, but finally gave in.  

In 1804 she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart, which sent her to the United States in 1818. From the convent and school she founded at St. Charles, Mo. — later moved to Florissant, Mo. — she traveled over a wide area, founding schools for girls, doing charitable work, and finally ministering to Native Americans.

St. Rose Duchesne was a valiant missionary and a well-known benefactress. She spent her last ten years in retirement in a tiny shack at the convent in Saint Charles, Missouri where she lived austerely and in constant prayer. She died on November 18, 1852 at Saint Charles, Missouri.

She was beatified on May 12, 1940 by Pope Pius XII, and canonized July 3, 1988 by Pope John Paul II. She is often referred to as “The Lady of Mercy,” or ” Woman Who Prays Always.”

Patronage: Opposition of Church authorities, diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Missouri.

Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

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Reading 1 RV 1:1-4; 2:1-5

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,
to show his servants what must happen soon.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.

John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.

I heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:

“‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;
you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”
 

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (Rev. 2:17) Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

 

 

Alleluia JN 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Set Your Hearts on Christ / Fijar el Corazón en Cristo

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Today’s Gospel passage is part of a conversation between Jesus and the apostles in the Temple. It began with the apostles walking through the city of Jerusalem and being amazed at the beauty of the Temple. They said to Jesus, “Look, teacher, what stones and what buildings!” (Mk 13:1) It is no wonder that they were in awe as they saw the Temple. The temple compound was one of the most magnificent structures known in the ancient world and the center of Jewish life for almost 1,000 years. 

So what did the apostles see that was so overwhelming in its beauty and grandeur? Josephus, the Jewish historian, documents that the temple was covered on the outside with gold plating, and when the sun shone it was blinding. Where there wasn’t gold, there were blocks of marble that were pure white. The stones used to build the temple were massive. The limestone blocks used in the retaining wall for the temple compound alone are enormous and can still be seen today. Some of them are 50 feet wide, 25 feet high, and 15 feet deep. 

Jesus responds to his closest followers with the disconcerting statement that not one of these stones would be left on a stone. In the eschatological discourse that followed, Jesus exhorted his disciples and the Church to have faith and to be obedient through the trials that confront them before Jesus’ return in power and glory. No one but the Father knows the precise time of the Second Coming.

This Gospel passage about the tribulation to come was particularly unsettling, and for us could even seem terrifying. For the apostles, whose lives with Jesus up to that time had been filled with teaching, healing the sick, and prayer, this may have seemed to them like a sharp turn in the road. When we hear this Gospel proclaimed we may wonder with alarm if we are seeing the signs of the end occurring in the world. 

Notice that Jesus didn’t advise his followers to be worried and terrified. He exhorted us to be vigilant, to watch, and to have faith. His words will not pass away, and he will return in glory to gather to himself those who have believed in him. 

I think it would be best to take our cue from Peter who wrote in his first letter: “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, ‘Be holy because I [am] holy’” (1 Pt 1:13-16).

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El pasaje del Evangelio de hoy es parte de una conversación entre Jesús y los apóstoles en el Templo. Comenzó con los apóstoles caminando por la ciudad de Jerusalén y asombrados por la belleza del Templo. Le dijeron a Jesús: “Maestro, mira qué piedras y qué edificios” (Mc 13:1). No es de extrañar que estuvieran asombrados al ver el Templo. El recinto del templo era una de las estructuras más magníficas conocidas en el mundo antiguo y el centro de la vida judía durante casi mil años.

Entonces, ¿qué vieron los apóstoles que era tan abrumador en su belleza y grandeza? Josefo, el historiador judío, documenta que el templo estaba cubierto por fuera con un baño de oro, y cuando brillaba el sol era cegador. Donde no había oro, había bloques de mármol que eran de un blanco puro. Las piedras utilizadas para construir el templo eran enormes. Los bloques de piedra caliza utilizados en el muro de contención del recinto del templo son enormes y todavía se pueden ver hoy. Algunas de ellas tienen 15 metros de ancho, 8 metros de alto y 4,5 metros de profundidad.

Jesús responde a sus seguidores más cercanos con la desconcertante declaración de que ninguna de estas piedras quedaría sobre piedra. En el discurso escatológico que siguió, Jesús exhortó a sus discípulos y a la Iglesia a tener fe y a ser obedientes durante las pruebas que los confrontan antes del regreso de Jesús en poder y gloria. Nadie más que el Padre sabe el momento preciso de la Segunda Venida.

Este pasaje del Evangelio sobre la tribulación que se avecina fue particularmente inquietante, y para nosotros incluso podría parecer aterrador. Para los apóstoles, cuyas vidas con Jesús hasta ese momento habían estado llenas de enseñanza, sanación de enfermos y oración, esto puede haberles parecido un giro brusco en el camino. Cuando escuchamos la proclamación de este Evangelio, podemos preguntarnos con alarma si estamos viendo las señales del fin que se están produciendo en el mundo.

Observe que Jesús no aconsejó a sus seguidores que se preocuparan y se aterrorizaran. Nos exhortó a estar vigilantes, a velar y a tener fe. Sus palabras no pasarán, y él regresará en gloria para reunir a los que han creído en él.

Creo que sería mejor seguir el ejemplo de Pedro, quien escribió en su primera carta: “Por tanto, ciñen los lomos de su entendimiento, viven con sobriedad y pongan su esperanza por completo en la gracia que se les traerá cuando Jesucristo sea manifestado. Como hijos obedientes, no andan según los deseos que tuvieron cuando eran ignorantes, sino sean santos también ustedes en toda su manera de vivir, como es santo aquel que los llamó; porque está escrito: Sean santos, porque yo soy santo” (1 Pedro 1,13-16).

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Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes

Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is an author and offers online evangelization as well as spiritual formation for people on their journey of spiritual transformation and inner healing. Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com My Books: https://touchingthesunrise.com/books/
Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/ HeartWork Spiritual Formation Group: https://touchingthesunrise.com/heartwork/

Feature Image Credit: Petra Österreich, pixabay.com/photos/candle-flame-candlelight-wood-546563/

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Reading I Dn 12:1-3

In those days, I Daniel, 
    heard this word of the Lord:
“At that time there shall arise
    Michael, the great prince,
    guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
    since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
    everyone who is found written in the book.

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
    some shall live forever,
    others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

“But the wise shall shine brightly
    like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
    shall be like the stars forever.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
    you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
    with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
    my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
    nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
    fullness of joys in your presence,
    the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Reading II Heb 10:11-14, 18

Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins. 
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.

Alleluia Lk 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates. 
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place. 
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.

“But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Feast date: Nov 17

On Nov. 17, the Catholic Church celebrates the life and example of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a medieval noblewoman who responded to personal tragedy by embracing St. Francis’ ideals of poverty and service. A patron of secular Franciscans, she is especially beloved to Germans, as well as the faithful of her native Hungary.

As the daughter of the Hungarian King Andrew II, Elizabeth had the responsibilities of royalty thrust upon her almost as soon as her short life began in 1207. While she was still very young, Elizabeth’s father arranged for her to be married to a German nobleman, Ludwig of Thuringia.

The plan forced Elizabeth to separate from her parents while still a child. Adding to this sorrow was the murder of Elizabeth’s mother Gertrude in 1213, which history ascribes to a conflict between her own German people and the Hungarian nobles. Elizabeth took a solemn view of life and death from that point on, and found consolation in prayer. Both tendencies drew some ire from her royal peers.

For a time, beginning in 1221, she was happily married. Ludwig, who had advanced to become one of the rulers of Thuringia, supported Elizabeth’s efforts to live out the principles of the Gospel even within the royal court. She met with friars of the nascent Franciscan order during its founder’s own lifetime, resolving to use her position as queen to advance their mission of charity.

Remarkably, Ludwig agreed with his wife’s resolution, and the politically powerful couple embraced a life of remarkable generosity toward the poor. They had three children, two of whom went on to live as as members of the nobility, although one of them –her only son– died relatively young. The third eventually entered religious life and became abbess of a German convent.

In 1226, while Ludwig was attending to political affairs in Italy, Elizabeth took charge of distributing aid to victims of disease and flooding that struck Thuringia. She took charge of caring for the afflicted, even when this required giving up the royal family’s own clothes and goods. Elizabeth arranged for a hospital to be built, and is said to have provided for the needs of nearly a thousand desperately poor people on a daily basis.

The next year, however, would put Elizabeth’s faith to the test. Her husband had promised to assist the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the Sixth Crusade, but he died of illness en route to Jerusalem. Devastated by Ludwig’s death, Elizabeth vowed never to remarry. Her children were sent away, and relatives heavily pressured her to break the vow.

Undeterred, Elizabeth used her remaining money to build another hospital, where she personally attended to the sick almost constantly. Sending away her servants, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis, seeking to emulate the example of its founder as closely as her responsibilities would allow. Near the end of her life, she lived in a small hut and spun her own clothes.

Working continually with the severely ill, Elizabeth became sick herself, dying of illness in November of 1231. After she died, miraculous healings soon began to occur at her grave near the hospital, and she was declared a saint only four years later.

Pope Benedict XVI has praised her as a “model for those in authority,” noting the continuity between her personal love for God, and her public work on behalf of the poor and sick.

Patronage: Bakers; beggars; brides; charitable societies; charitable workers; charities; countesses; death of children; exiles; falsely accused people; hoboes; homeless people; hospitals; in-law problems; lacemakers; lace workers; nursing homes; nursing services; people in exile; people ridiculed for their piety; Sisters of Mercy; tertiaries; Teutonic Knights; toothache; tramps; widows.

Representation: A queen distributing alms; woman wearing a crown and tending to beggars; woman wearing a crown, carrying a load of roses in her apron or mantle.