The Dictate of the Heart:  32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

We have a new President; we have the responsibility to pray for him.  I hope that we will be supporting him despite our different political affiliation.  As Catholics, we must show respect to both civil authorities and ecclesiastical authorities.  We are one nation under God, indivisible, which we need to truly honor and respect.  

Let us try to set aside political bickering and seek healing of our people, our country.  When we encounter people holding signage that says, “In our candidate, we trust,” I feel that sign to be uncomfortable for me and I need to process the heart’s discomfort.  I think that it is also an obvious sign that people are expecting someone to restore our serious divides and look forward to a brighter future.  However, I would like to put this into proper perspective that the only one that can truly provide our desire and hope for our country is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ, He has all the authority and power over us to live a life of contentment, happiness and peace.     

The readings in today’s liturgy present us with the story of two women outstanding in their generosity.  The first woman Elijah encounters in his travels is poor, with a son, who needs to survive with a meager supply of flour and oil, but they were able to survive because the “jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.” (v.16) The widow fulfilled what she was asked to do.  She was also generous to obey when Elijah told her to first make a little cake and bring it to him.   

The 2nd reading is taken from the letter to the Hebrews and reminds us that the first appearance of Jesus has changed everything through His death “to take away sins by His sacrifice.”  Jesus is the High Priest who exactly “did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of a true one, but heaven itself that He might now appear God before on our behalf.” (v. 24).  When Jesus appears a second time, it is not to take away sins of God’s children, but to graciously bring with Him the promise of salvation.  Let us remember that He is a good Judge and a merciful Savior.  It surely requires true repentance and conversion so that we can graciously be destined to receive salvation that is eternal life lived in God’s glorious presence in the new earth and new heaven. 

The gospel today from St. Matthew recounts the story of Jesus observing people putting money into the temple treasury.  Those who are rich have given large amounts, but Jesus noted that the poor widow put a couple of pence into the treasury indicating that she was giving not a surplus from her livelihood. To Jesus she was able to give more out of her poverty than the rich people who gave much from their surplus. 

What are the important lessons we can get from this beautiful story? 

First, for a person who lives in poverty. there is no reason or hindrance to be generous.  We have observed that God blessed us and has abundantly given us from our own poverty of spirit, like one’s poverty calls us to a deep and profound faith, hope and love.   Have you ever thought that Elijah, the prophet, helps the widow to overcome her poverty just like Jesus, our Savior, responds to all the people He encounters throughout His ministry of preaching and healing, and providing to those people in need.  I am generous when I have nothing to give but am humbled and trust in the Lord that I can be compassionate in other ways, like prayer and showing righteousness.  If I have something to give, I see to it that I have the heart to share with those I have missed to help.  I do believe that my heart is full of the capacity to do what the Lord is asking me to do, that is to be generous materially, with time and love for others.  We must learn to accept that the Lord helps us in many ways by trusting Him and then finding ourselves having much to share.    

Second, I believe that dependence upon God is crucial and necessary.  Instead of asking for more material wealth, why don’t we pray for help to be generous at all times even though we may notice that even we ourselves need help, but there are those with greater need than us.  It is sometimes common to us that our reason for refusing to help is because we have nothing to give.  Let us be ready to be dependent on God and give from our own poverty.  I do believe that poor people have the ability to share with those who are rich, by their simplicity, dependence and love of God.  Thus, in any circumstance, I feel that the world needs my charity, but I also do what I must to take care of my personal needs. 

Third, this story connects with our duty to love God and our neighbor.  The widow is in the temple to perform her ritual of loving God according to her religious tradition.  She has given from her meager income to share with others as well. I can see that her action points to a deeper reality of the ways of Jesus and, besides, the temple collected monies to provide necessary provisions for the maintenance and expenses incurred and for other charitable works.  

Our Christian attitude to give something to the temple, or to our parish, holds our belief that the more we give leads us back to God, who is a good provider.  Jesus makes much of our own poverty to be generous, thus Jesus blesses how we will love Him and our neighbor.  This is a belief that if you care for your neighbor, God will certainly care for you.  Never compare the amount you have given to others in need; just respond positively.  If you are reluctant to give, perhaps you would be discouraged to find out how you doubt your capacity to give from your surplus.  It is also said that those of us who are poor often give, even from what we need.

With our conscious reflection of today’s readings, we are encouraged to ask for the grace to give more from the deepest recesses of our hearts.  We need this kind of generosity from us.  Who among my family, friends and those whom I am not aware of, could I now give to?  Do I have the faith and courage to give my last cent?  

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Trigésimo-segundo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B (10 de Noviembre)

  • 1 Reyes 17:10-16
  • Salmos 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
  • Hebreos 9:24-28
  • Marcos 12:38-44

Tenemos un nuevo Presidente y tenemos la responsabilidad de orar por él.  Espero que lo apoyemos a pesar de nuestras diferentes afiliaciones políticas.  Como católicos, debemos mostrar respeto a las autoridades civiles y a las autoridades eclesiásticas.  Estamos en una nación bajo Dios, indivisible, a la que honramos y respetamos. 

Intentemos dejar a un lado las disputas políticas y busquemos sanar tanto al pueblo como al país.  Cuando nos encontramos con personas con carteles que dicen: “Confiamos en nuestro candidato”, siento que ese cartel se vuelve incómodo para mí y necesito procesar el malestar de nuestros corazones.  Creo que también es una señal obvia que muestra la desesperación de algunas personas que esperan que alguien restablezca las divisiones y espera un futuro mejor.  Sin embargo, me gustaría poner esto en una perspectiva adecuada: el único que verdaderamente puede satisfacer nuestro deseo y esperanza para nuestro país no es otro que nuestro Señor Jesucristo.  Él tiene toda la autoridad y poder sobre nosotros para vivir una vida de sanción, felicidad y paz. 

Las lecturas de hoy presentan las historias de dos mujeres destacadas por su generosidad.  La primera mujer que Elíasencuentra en su viaje.  Ella es pobre con su hijo y necesita sobrevivir con una escasa provisión de harina y aceite. Sin embargo, sobreviven porque “no se acabó la tinaja de harina, ni se secó el cántaro de aceite, como el Señor había predicho por medio de Elías” (v.16).  La viuda cumplió lo que le pedían, y también fue generosa al obedecer lo que Elías le dijo, de hacer primero una pequeña torta y llevársela. 

Segunda lectura de la carta a los Hebreos. Nos recuerda que la primera aparición de Jesús cambió todo a través de Su muerte “para quitar los pecados con Su sacrificio”.  Jesús es el Sumo Sacerdote que exactamente “no entró en un santuario hecho por manos, copia de uno verdadero, sino en el cielo mismo, para presentarse ahora ante Dios a favor de nosotros”. (v. 24).  Cuando Jesús venga por segunda vez, no para quitar los pecados de los hijos de Dios, sino para traer con Él la promesa de salvación.  Recordemos que Él es un buen Juez y un Salvador misericordioso.  Requiere verdadero arrepentimiento y conversión para que podamos recibir en gracia la salvación que es vida eterna vivida en la gloriosa presencia de Dios en la tierra nueva y un nuevo cielo. 

El evangelio de hoy de San Mateo relata la historia de que, en una ocasión Jesús estaba sentado frente a las alcancías del templo, mirando cómo la gente echaba allí sus monedas. Muchos ricos daban en abundancia. En esto, se acercó una viuda pobre y echó dos moneditas de muy poco valor, indicando que no estaba dando lo que le sobraba. Para Jesús, ella pudo dar de su pobreza que los ricos que dieron mucho de lo que les sobraba. 

¿Cuáles son las lecciones importantes que podemos sacar de esta hermosa historia? 

Primero, una persona que vive en pobreza no es por ningún motivo un impedimento para ser generoso. Hemos observado que Dios nos bendice y nos da abundancia en nuestra pobreza de espíritu, como la pobreza de uno, nos llama a una fe, esperanza y amor profundo. ¿Alguna vez has pensado que Elías, el profeta ayuda a la viuda a superar su pobreza al igual que Jesús, nuestro Salvador responde a todas las personas que encuentra a lo largo de su ministerio de predicación y sanación que provee a las personas necesitadas? Soy generoso cuando no tengo nada para dar, pero me humillo y confío en el Señor para que pueda ser compasivo de otras maneras, como en la oración y mostrando rectitud. Si tengo algo para dar, me aseguro de tener el corazón para compartirlo con aquellos que son mis semejantes. Creo que mi corazón está lleno de la capacidad de hacer lo que el Señor me pide que haga, es decir, ser generoso materialmente, con tiempo y amor para los demás. Debemos aprender a aceptar que el Señor nos ayuda de muchas maneras al confiar en Él, y luego encontrarnos con mucho amor para compartir. 

En segundo lugar, creo que la dependencia de Dios es crucial y necesaria. En lugar de pedir más riqueza material, ¿por qué no oramos para ser generosos en todo momento, aunque notemos que incluso nosotros necesitamos ayuda y que hay quienes tienen una necesidad mayor que nosotros? A veces es común para nosotros que nuestra razón para negarnos a ayudar es que no tenemos nada para dar. Estemos dispuestos a depender de Dios y dar de nuestra pobreza. Creo que los pobres pueden compartir con los ricos, por su sencillez, dependencia y amor a Dios. Por eso, en cualquier circunstancia, siento que el mundo necesita mi caridad y hago lo que debo hacer también para cuidar de mis necesidades personales. 

En tercer lugar, esta historia se conecta con nuestro deber de amar a Dios y a nuestro prójimo. La viuda está en el templo para realizar su ritual de amar a Dios según su tradición religiosa. Sus escasos ingresos han dejado de ser compartidos con los demás también. Puedo ver que su acción apunta a una realidad más profunda de los caminos de Jesús. Además, el dinero recaudado en el templo proporciona las provisiones necesarias para el mantenimiento y los gastos incurridos y para otras obras de caridad. Muchos católicos hacen donaciones durante el ofertorio, un dólar que refleja el valor de uno mismo a los ojos de Dios. El ofertorio es como dar una propina después de cenar en el restaurante. Lo que ofreces habla de ti mismo. 

Nuestra actitud cristiana de dar el diezmo al templo o a nuestra parroquia sostiene nuestra creencia de que cuanto más damos, más nos lleva a Dios, quien es un buen proveedor.  Jesús da mucha importancia a nuestra propia pobreza para ser generosos, así, Jesús bendice cómo lo amaremos a Él y a nuestro prójimo.  Esta es la creencia de que si te preocupas por tu prójimo, Dios ciertamente cuidará de ti.  Nunca compares la cantidad que has dado a otros necesitados, simplemente responde positivamente.  Si eres reacio a dar, quizás te desanimes al descubrir cómo dudas de tu capacidad para dar. También se dice que los que somos pobres muchas veces damos, incluso de lo que necesitamos.

Con nuestra reflexión consciente sobre las lecturas de hoy, se nos anima a pedir la gracia de dar más desde lo más profundo de nuestro corazón.  Necesitamos este tipo de generosidad de nuestra parte.  ¿Quiénes son mis familiares, amigos y aquellos de quienes no soy consciente, que ahora podría dar?  ¿Tengo la fe y el coraje para dar mi último centavo?   

Dios los bendiga.

 P. Arlón, osa

The Dictate of the Heart:  Resumed the 5th Sunday after Epiphany

In today’s liturgy, we resume the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany.  Congratulations to all of us for having a new President-elect Donald Trump.   We have the responsibility to pray for him.  I hope that we will be supporting him despite our different political affiliation.  As Catholics, we must show respect to both civil authorities and ecclesiastical authorities.  We are one nation under God, indivisible, which we truly honor and respect.  

Let us try to set aside political bickering and seek for healing of our people, our country.  When we encountered people holding signage that said, “In our candidate, we trust,” I feel that sign becomes uncomfortable for me and I need to process the heart’s discomfort.  I think that it is also an obvious sign that people are expecting someone to restore our serious divides and are looking forward to a brighter future.  However, I would like to put this into proper perspective that the only one that can truly provide our desire and hope for our country is no other than our Lord Jesus Christ, He has all the authority and power over us to live a life of contentment, happiness and peace.  

The epistle today, taken from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians, exhorts all of us to “Put ye on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.”  St. Paul is invoking the metaphor of clothing, of garments. but it’s about spiritual qualities and values.  Therefore, we should put on new clothes as God’s chosen ones.  The new clothes is our own identity and dignity that through baptism, we died and we will rise again with Jesus as a new person, graced, blessed, loved and favored as God’s chosen ones.  Just as He chose Israel out of various trials and difficulties, God continues to choose people that will belong to Him. He chooses people, not because of anything in that person, not because the person is smart or rich or powerful or charismatic, but God chooses based on His own sovereign choice.  God plans for His beloved, and He sets His love upon you.   St. Paul is saying, “Remember who you are, remember you are loved and therefore put on new clothes. You have a new identity.” 

The mentioning of “bowels of mercy, benignity or kindness, humility, modesty and patience” refers to one’s feelings that you are easily moved by the needs of those around you, that you are compassionate, and that you are touched by the struggles of others.   People in that time liked to describe emotions as being located in your bowels.  When they felt worried or anxious of someone or something, they would say, “their bowels are churning…rolling or burning towards others’ needs and you want to help in their struggles.  Thus, you esteem others more important than yourselves.” 

The gospel today, taken from the evangelist Matthew, is about a parable shared by Jesus which expresses about the Kingdom of God.  Let us reflect what profound lessons we can extract from this gospel pericope. 

First, this parable reminds us of the existence of good and evil.  When the wheat and the weeds grow together, good and evil exist side by side in the world.  As we journey through life, we oftentimes encounter falsehoods and temptations to distract us in our spiritual journey.  We need to master the art of discernment navigating this complex reality of evil, seeking the truth and striving to live out our faith in a world that is not always in conformity with the holy will of God.  

Second, this parable teaches us to have that patience and trust in His divine providence.  We heard that the landowner decides to allow both the wheat and the weeds to grow until the time is perfect for the harvest. This is the wisdom that calls us to exercise restraint and hold on to our quick impulse to do things that would jeopardize others.  God knows the hearts of each of us and will ultimately bring justice according to His time.  Thus, our task is to remain faithful, persevering in prayer, and being open to be moved by the fingers of God’s hands because He teaches us how to deal with the complexity of life. 

Third, this parable encourages us to cultivate mercy and hope.  Even though evil may seem prevalent, we follow the path of God who taught us the value of mercy and forgiveness, which is endless.  The landowner patiently waited for the time of harvest to separate the wheat from the weeds.   We get the message that God’s patience is His wisdom to share so that evil people may have that opportunity to change and be converted.  We must stop making judgment of others or condemning them; instead, we must grant them forgiveness and pray for their conversion.   

May we find strength and guidance in this parable, prompting us to reflect on our own spiritual maturity as followers of Jesus. Are we growing wheat within ourselves and fostering a vibrant relationship with God? Are we responsible to live virtuously and bear fruits of love, kindness, and compassion?   Please do some soul searching to seek an answer whether our actions and choices influence, not only our own spiritual journey, but also the world in which we live.  May we have the opportune time to pray that we will respond to God’s patience that affords us repentance and the ability to be transformed. 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Today is the 31st Sunday in Ordinary time, Year B.  We are in the 3rd day of the month of November.  This month we remember our deceased loved ones and ask the prayers of those who are already in heaven, the multitude of God’s elect, to intercede and give us hope to look forward to God’s promise of life everlasting. 

All the readings we have heard speak about the love of God, which is the basis of everything.  The Book of Deuteronomy reminds us of the “Shema” which the Israelites take to heart God’s commandment and love God with all their heart and their whole being.  Moses exhorts the people of Israel: “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!  Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.” (vv. 4-6)   Therefore, Moses taught them that it is God alone they must worship and give Him their undivided love.  There is no multiplicity of gods as some people think; this is to assert their identity as monotheistic.  It is demanded of them their love and personal relationship with Him.  God manifests His desire to establish a relationship with His people. 

In the 2nd reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the author reminds the people of the many Leviticus priests who come and go and taste death, but “that Jesus, because He remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.” Jesus is a priest forever “who always saves” and people approach God through His ultimate sacrifices.  

In the gospel, taken from the evangelist Mark, the scribe is asking Jesus this time not testing Him. and Jesus’ response demonstrates that He upholds strictly the Jewish tradition of Moses that there is but One God.  This good news keeps us mindful of acting at all times to the two most important commandments of God.

First, Jesus quoted the Old Testament, “Hear, O Israel.  The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”  (Deut. 6:4)   Thus, loving God is the first commandment, and the most important commandment we must do.  What does that mean to love God? If we believe, trust and are fully in love with God, we must be submissive to His will and keep all His commandments.  Furthermore, Jesus who lives in history, shows us how He lives, and teaches us what it means to love God in words, deeds and actions.  There is no duplicity in Him. 

Second, Jesus says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Loving our neighbor is easy when we like them, but how about those who are hurting us?  The truth matters when we truly understand Jesus’ words that when we love, it comes from the heart.  There are times that we struggle to accept the pain of being hurt, but it is part of our purification and sacrifice.  If we believe that our strength and power to forgive comes solely from God,’who is generously forgiving and merciful, we don’t need anything at all but to dispense the grace of God that has been given to us and share with others.  Everyone should love each other and do it for both the good and the bad.  Jesus fulfills everything for us.  

Let us be open to accept the “spirituality of Synodality” which Pope Francis acknowledges that as we journey towards the kingdom of God, we accept concrete ways and formation pathways to bring about synodal conversion.  When we are forgetful to work conscientiously remaining faithful in a relationship with God, our struggle to fulfill the second commandment would be easy and not burdensome.  Our listening and loving this awesome One God becomes our inspiration and motivator in keeping these two commandments.

For those who faithfully comply to obey these two commandments, they must show gratitude being loved by God and loved by others.  These two commandments are meant to keep all of us together, united with our loving God, and to grow in prosperity and love.  We pray for the grace of finding ourselves by loving God and reflecting on how we truly practice the teaching of Jesus by loving and accepting our neighbors, not as demanding laws, but as a sure way to holiness.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Trigésimo-primer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B

  • Deuteronomio 6:2-6
  • Salmo 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
  • Hebreos 7:23-28
  • Marcos 12:28b-34

Hoy es el Trigésimo-primer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B. Estamos en el tercer día de noviembre. Este mes recordamos a nuestros seres queridos que han fallecido y pedimos oraciones de los que ya están en el cielo, la multitud de los elegidos de Dios para que intercedan y nos den esperanza para mirar hacia adelante a la promesa de Dios de vida eterna. 

Todas las lecturas que hemos escuchado hablan sobre el amor de Dios que es la base de todo. El libro del Deuteronomio nos recuerda el “Shemá”, que los israelitas toman en serio el mandamiento de Dios y amar a Dios con todo su corazón y todo su ser. Moisés exhorta al pueblo de Israel: “¡El Señor es nuestro Dios, él es único Señor! Amarás, pues, al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma y con todas tus fuerzas. Guarda en tu corazón estas palabras que yo te ordeno hoy” (vv. 4-6). Por eso, Moisés les enseñó que solo a Dios debían adorar y darle su amor. No hay multiplicidad de dioses, piensan algunos, esto es para afirmar su identidad como monoteístas. Se les exige su amor y relación personal con Él. Dios manifiesta su deseo de establecer una relación con su pueblo. 

En la segunda lectura de la carta a los Hebreos, el autor recuerda al pueblo que muchos sacerdotes levíticos van y vienen y prueban la muerte, pero “que Jesús, por cuanto permanece para siempre, tiene un sacerdocio que no pasa”. Jesús es un sacerdote eterno “que siempre salva” y sus sacrificios acercan a la gente a Dios a través de su sacrificio supremo. 

En el evangelio tomado del evangelista Marcos, el escriba pregunta, esta vez sin poner a prueba a Jesús. La respuesta de Jesús demuestra que Él mantiene estrictamente la tradición judía de Moisés de que hay un solo Dios. Esta buena noticia nos hace conscientes de actuar en todo momento los dos mandamientos más importantes de Dios. 

Primero, Jesús citó el Antiguo Testamento: “Escucha, Israel: el Señor nuestro Dios es el único Señor. Amarás al Señor, tu Dios, con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma, con toda tu mente y con todas tus fuerzas”. (Deut. 6:4) Por lo tanto, amar a Dios es el primer mandamiento y el más importante que debemos cumplir. ¿Qué significa amar a Dios? Si creemos, confiamos y estamos completamente enamorados de Dios, debemos ser sumisos a Su voluntad y cumplir todos Sus mandamientos. Además, Jesús, que vive en la historia, nos muestra cómo vive y nos enseña lo que significa amar a Dios en palabras, hechos y acciones. En Él no hay duplicidad. 

En segundo lugar, Jesús dice: “Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”. Amar a nuestro prójimo cuando nos agrada, pero ¿qué pasa con aquellos que nos hacen daño? La verdad importa cuando realmente entendemos las palabras de Jesús de que cuando amamos, el amor viene del corazón. Hay momentos en que nos cuesta aceptar el dolor de ser heridos, pero es parte de nuestra purificación y sacrificio. Supongamos que creemos que nuestra fuerza y  poder para perdonar proviene únicamente de Dios, que es generoso y misericordioso. No necesitamos nada en absoluto, sino dispensar la gracia que Dios nos ha dado y compartido con los demás. Todos deben amarse unos a otros y hacerlo en lo bueno y en lo malo. Jesús cumple todo por nosotros. 

Seamos abiertos a aceptar la “espiritualidad de la sinodalidad” que el Papa Francisco reconoce que, a medida que avanzamos hacia el reino de Dios, aceptamos formas concretas y caminos de formación para lograr la conversión sinodal. Cuando nos olvidamos de trabajar conscientemente para permanecer fieles en una relación con Dios, nuestra lucha por cumplir el segundo mandamiento será fácil y no pesada. Escuchar y amar a este maravilloso Dios Único se convierte en nuestra inspiración y motivación para cumplir estos dos mandamientos. 

Quienes cumplen fielmente estos dos mandamientos deben mostrar gratitud por ser amados por Dios y por los demás. Estos dos mandamientos tienen como fin mantenernos unidos con nuestro Dios amoroso y crecer en prosperidad y amor. Oramos por la gracia de encontrarnos a nosotros mismos amando a Dios y reflexionar sobre cómo practicamos verdaderamente la enseñanza de Jesús al amar y aceptar a nuestro prójimo, no como leyes exigentes, sino como un camino seguro hacia la santidad. 

Dios los bendiga. 

P. Arlon, osa

The Dictate of the Heart: 24th Sunday after Pentecost, Extraordinary Form, TLM

Today is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.  This month of November, we remember our beloved dead and pray for their eternal repose.  We remember lovingly Annmarie Kuerzi, a lady who drove herself from Mesquite, Nevada just to attend the Extraordinary Form mass, a very devout Catholic.  She passed away almost a year ago at the age of 80 plus, and we pray for her soul’s eternal repose.   The husband of the late Annmarie, Max Kuerzi, tor whom she prayed a lot, is present today for this mass.  May your wife Annmarie rest in peace. Thank you for joining us today.   

When we develop faith into relationships with God and others, it is our way to respond to God’s grace and the reality of what God gifted us, the faith with which we are blessed in order to transform our hearts and renew our minds by the goodness of this awesome and loving God.  The transformation opens a new vision for us as dearly loved children of God, and when we discover our inherent value and worth. take a pause to have a humble view of ourselves.  Then, we begin loving others as God loves us.  We become loving towards our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, our Lord.   

The epistle, from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans, starts with these words, “Brethren, owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.” (v.8) This phrase has often been a point of reflection on our debt to love.  Loving one another is just like a debt we have to pay, a debt that will be endless.  We cannot say, “Enough is enough, I cannot love you anymore.  I have given to someone the love that God has asked me to love. I have no energy and desire to love her or him anymore at all.”   No, we cannot say that.  According to St. Paul, loving others is to accept it in the language and imagery of finance and debt.  Those who follow Christ must realize that we continue to love both the good and the bad people.  Loving good people increases our strength to do good things.  Loving bad people helps them in their conversion by our good and loving concern for them.  As Christ’s disciples, we continue to love as our payment over and over again, every day of our lives, because we too have been forgiven and are loved by our merciful God.  

St. Augustine has this to say, that love is the unique gift of God that is also shown and shared with us.  When we lose love and feel tired of loving, the Holy Spirit assists us to drink from its very source of love, God.  In doing so, drink from Himself.  According to the encyclical written by the late Pope Benedict, “In Deus Caritas Est,” he wrote, “Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities, I can give them the look of love which they crave.”  

When you visit the main altar of St. Rose of Lima Church, please contemplate the love of God as a great river flowing from its tabernacle towards the baptismal font.  Nothing can keep this love from pouring through us, except of course, our own blocking of the water because of our refusal to love others.  Do you sometimes feel that you have gotten to the end of your love for someone who refuses to love or vice versa?  Remember that image, that we are riverbeds through whom God’s endless supply of love and grace flows into this world.  So, St. Paul says “Love, therefore, is the fulfilling of the law.”

The gospel today, taken from Matthew 8:23-27, is a passage that is one of the best known and loved in the scripture.  Jesus and His Apostles were on the boat.  According to the final document of the 2nd session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality in Rome, the members of the Synod identify that the Church is “On the Boat, together with Jesus,” dedicated “to the conversion of the relationships that build the Christian community and shape the mission in the intertwining of vocations, charisms and ministries.”  In the gospel passage, Jesus together with His Apostles were on the boat on the Sea of Galilee.  We heard that Jesus is stronger than the storm. Jesus has the power to calm down those storms if we allow God in our lives, and if we just don’t succumb to fear but have faith in Him.  Jesus won’t allow our boat to sink.  This is the story of Matthew giving us HOPE during our struggles.  However, there are more great points we need to understand as we reflect on the gospel.   

First, seeing and believing Jesus is offering greater help at all times.  Jesus has been always with us, enough that we can manage our unsettled knowledge about Him.   He commands us to believe, to be obedient and to worship Him. 

Second, when we entrust everything to the Lord, we are not threatened.  We need to rest and relax under His care for He is great, and His concerns are good for our sake. 

Third, are you listening to His voice in the midst of your storm, your pain?   So can we hear in the silence of our hearts the words of Jesus to console us, to assure us, to heal us so we can enter into His peace?  If we don’t listen and ponder on His words in the scriptures, meditate, reflect and pray, how can we achieve the reassuring promise of Christ? 

Fourth, Jesus is with us on the boat, and He is with us in His instituted Church.  We know how He performs healing and other miracles and heed His preaching.   He reminds us of the truth we know; therefore, let us be awake! 

Fifth, if you continue freaking out, are you considering Jesus as your company?  When we have given up our faith because of the many storms that come through our lives, it is not yet too late to recognize Jesus that He has been with us in the same boat.  We must choose Jesus and throw ourselves back into the boat where Jesus is, for in Him there is a promise of comfort and guarantee that He can calm down the winds and the waves. 

Sixth, there is a need to pull up on the deck of the same boat, the Church, because it guides us to safety where Jesus is the true captain navigating to safety.  When we fail to disembark safely, we pull away from the Holy Catholic Church which Jesus founded.  He is God who brings us always to a safe place where there is peace, joy and tranquility of hearts and minds. 

Brothers and sisters, today what storms do you need to entrust to Jesus?  As we inaugurate the new chapter of our life in the Church, we must increasingly be aware that we are together journeying on Synodality where we become witnesses bringing the light of Jesus to others, through communion, participation and mission of the Holy Church.  The kingdom of God belongs to Jesus, our King and the captain of the greater boat, for us to identify ourselves that we are all together in the same Lord and Savior.  We have seen it as our purpose together in the love of Jesus towards our neighbors. 

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa