Dictate of the Heart | Fr. Arlon, osa

• 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
• Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14
• Romans 9:1-5
• Matthew 14:22-33

Nowadays I have never heard of anyone who can walk on the water, except Jesus. In the movie “The Chosen,” the director and the whole cast were able to present the scene of Jesus walking on the water. It is a dramatic and realistic scene and beautifully done. I am so amazed at how they did it. By coincidence, I saw a video of how they filmed it, and the director revealed how they made it so real. It was inside a huge water storage container filled with water. Through technology, they created sound effects and used a floating device for the main actor to make believe that he is walking on the water. The cinematography is indeed wonderfully amazing. Movies are made now to let the audience enjoy the virtual effects on the big screen as if the event is actually happening in front of us. It portrays the most exciting techniques to captivate viewers’ emotions and feelings. It is a movie we must watch.

Today is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is summertime, a time for family bonding, picnics, or outdoor activities. Let us be careful swimming in the sea or lake and be mindful that we cannot walk on the water, only Jesus can. However, just listen to Jesus for a moment as He says, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid…Come.”

In our first reading, taken from the first book of Kings, Elijah had his own encounter with God on the mountain. To understand Elijah’s journey, we read the previous chapters of this book, and then we have a deep interest in how he managed his life at Horeb. While he was resting and hiding in a cave, the Lord said to him, “Go outside and stand before the Lord, the Lord will be passing by.” Elijah stood outside where he was confronted with a holy mess of natural winds that are breaking rocks to bits, an earthquake, and an all-consuming fire. Somehow, he was patiently waiting until his persistence paid off. “After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.” The Lord passed by. There it took place; God sent him on a mission to fulfill.

From the second reading, St. Paul expresses deep sorrow and disappointment for the people of Israel who refused to accept Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise. St. Paul says, “I feel great sorrow and anguish for my people, the Israelite brothers, and sisters because they have not believed Jesus is the Messiah.” I believe that the heart of Paul was not only broken, but our hearts as well. We feel the sorrow to know that our children don’t attend Mass, something that is completely a disconnect from God. We have seen our families walk away from the Lord. We grieve their absence here.

Our gospel today narrates a story to us about the apostles who were sent by Jesus in a boat. The experience of the apostles had them crossing to the other side of the Lake, with winds and waves disturbing the calmness of their journey, and they succumbed in fear.

Let us keep in mind the challenges of this gospel to this contemporary world:

First, we experience a similar call from the Lord amidst chaos in the world we are in. The world is dangerous without Christ in our hearts. Though we are confronted with the challenge, we stay calm and never panic, for the Lord continues to be present. Monsters and evils have no power lurking over us so deeply because Jesus has ultimate power to defeat them.

Second, as we go through life, Jesus journeys with us. Many times, we are unable to recognize Him because we are blinded by the clouds of fear and anxieties. Our faith in the Lord is our eyes to recognize Him for He never abandons us. If we are neglectful of opening our eyes with faith in moments of sorrows, difficulties, and pain, then we become like Peter, who had weak faith and started drowning.

Third, let us allow ourselves to be invited by Jesus who speaks: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid…Come,” and learn to rely upon Him. This is unlike Peter, who was blinded by his fear. When dark spirits control us, seek Jesus’ comforting call through our prayers that spring out safety and stability of our life. Overcoming our fear draws us near to Jesus.

The Church calls for Synodality; we journey together, we walk together, we are in communion towards God. When all feels lost and desperate, Jesus appears, walking not on the water but together with us. We cannot walk alone, disturbed by the terror of evil, and our survival depends on how we recognize Jesus, the Lord.

Where is God’s presence? Not in the turmoil of natural calamities, but we find Jesus in the silence of our hearts in prayer. Therefore, we pray to be open to God’s presence and to be attentive to His calling that is beyond our present comfort.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón: Decimonoveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, año A

• 1 Reyes 19:9a, 11-13a
• Salmo 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14
• Romanos 9:1-5
• Mateo 14:22-33

Hoy en día nunca e escuchado de que alguien pueda caminar sobre el agua, solo Jesús. En la película “Los elegidos”, el director y todo el elenco pudieron presentar la escena de Jesús caminando sobre el agua. Es una escena dramática y realista y bellamente hecha. Estoy tan asombrado de cómo lo hicieron. Por coincidencia, vi un video de cómo lo filmaron y el director reveló cómo lo hicieron tan real. Fue dentro del enorme contenedor de agua, o dentro de un depósito de agua gigante, donde a través de la tecnología, crearon efectos de sonido y utilizaron un dispositivo flotante para el actor principal, para hacer creer que está caminando sobre el agua. La cinematografía es de hecho maravillosamente sorprendente. Ahora se hacen películas para que la audiencia disfrute de los efectos virtuales como si el evento sucediera frente a la pantalla grande. Retrata las técnicas más emocionantes para cautivar las emociones y sentimientos de los espectadores. Es una película que recomiendo ver.

Hoy es el Decimonoveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario. Este es el verano, un momento para la unión familiar, picnics o actividades al aire libre. Tengamos cuidado al nadar en el mar o en el lago, pero tengamos más cuidado de no tratar de caminar sobre el agua, solo Jesús puede hacerlo. Sin embargo, solo escuche a Jesús por un momento, Él dice: “Ánimo, soy yo; no tengas miedo… Ven.”

En la primera lectura tomada del primer libro de Reyes, Elías tuvo su encuentro con Dios en la montaña. Para comprender el viaje de Elías, leemos los capítulos anteriores de este libro y luego tenemos un profundo entendimiento, en cómo manejó su vida en Horeb. Mientras descansaba y se escondía en una cueva. El Señor le dijo: “Sal fuera y ponte delante del Señor, el Señor pasará”. Elijah se quedó afuera, luego se enfrentó a un desastre sagrado de vientos naturales que rompían rocas en pedazos, un terremoto y un fuego que todo lo consumía. De alguna manera, estaba esperando pacientemente hasta que su persistencia valiera la pena. “Después del incendio, hubo un pequeño susurro”. El Señor pasó. Allí tuvo lugar el envío de Dios para una misión a cumplir.

Desde la segunda lectura, San Pablo expresa un profundo dolor y desilusión por el pueblo de Israel que se negó a aceptar a Jesús como el cumplimiento de la promesa de Dios. San Pablo dice: “Siento gran dolor y angustia por mi pueblo, hermanos y hermanas israelitas porque no han creído que Jesús es el Mesías”. Yo creo que el corazón de Pablo no solo estaba quebrantado sino también el nuestro. Sentimos el dolor de saber que nuestros hijos no asisten a Misa, algo que está completamente desconectado de Dios. Hemos visto a nuestras familias alejarse del Señor. Lamentamos su ausencia aquí.

Nuestro evangelio de hoy nos narra una historia sobre los apóstoles que fueron enviados por Jesús en una barca. La experiencia de los apóstoles cruzando del otro lado del lago, los vientos y las olas perturban la tranquilidad de su viaje, pero sucumben al miedo.

Tengamos en cuenta los desafíos de este evangelio para este mundo contemporáneo:

Primero, experimentamos un llamado similar del Señor en medio del caos en el mundo en el que estamos. El mundo es peligroso sin Cristo en nuestros corazones. Aunque nos enfrentamos al desafío, mantenemos la calma y nunca entramos en pánico porque el Señor sigue estando presente. Los monstruos y los males no tienen poder para acecharnos tan profundamente porque Jesús tiene el máximo poder para vencerlos.

En segundo lugar, a medida que avanzamos por la vida, Jesús viaja con nosotros. Muchas veces somos incapaces de reconocerlo y estamos cegados por las nubes del miedo y la ansiedad. Nuestra fe en el Señor son nuestros ojos para reconocerlo porque Él nunca nos abandona, somos negligentes en abrir los ojos de la fe en los momentos de tristeza, dificultad y dolor.

Tercero, dejémonos invitar por Jesús que habla: “”Tranquilícense y no teman. Soy yo… Ven,” y aprender a confiar en Él. A diferencia de Pedro, que estaba cegado por sus miedos. Cuando los espíritus oscuros nos controlan, busquemos el llamado consolador de Jesús a través de nuestras oraciones que brotan la seguridad y la estabilidad de nuestra vida. Superar nuestros miedos nos acerca a Jesús.

La Iglesia llama a la sinodalidad, juntos en la jornada, caminamos juntos y estamos en comunión con Dios. Cuando todo se siente perdido y desesperado, aparece Jesús, caminando no sobre el agua sino junto a nosotros. No podemos caminar solos, perturbados por el terror del mal y nuestra supervivencia depende de cómo reconozcamos que Jesús, es el Señor.

¿Dónde está la presencia de Dios? No en la confusión de las calamidades naturales, sino que encontramos a Jesús en el silencio de nuestros corazones en oración. Por lo tanto, oramos para estar abiertos a la presencia de Dios y estar atentos a su llamado que está más allá de nuestra comodidad actual.

Dios los bendiga.

Padre Arlón, osa

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
• Mark 7:31-37

Today is the 11th Sunday after Pentecost. We are reminded that every Sunday we gather together in this Church to feel God’s presence for “God in His Holy face, God who makes men of one mind to dwell in a house. He shall give power and strength to His people.” (Psalm 67:2)

Our epistle today, taken from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, describes how the Goodnews being preached to them would certainly benefit them if it is properly received and if one will stand and hold it in his heart. The Goodnews St. Paul was preaching is the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the way to escape punishment and for everyone to deserve salvation from God. It must first be believed and embraced. The Corinthian believers in the Lord, despite all their problems of life’s strifes, division, and immorality, they still stood for the gospel. Meaning to say, the work of the Holy Spirit is effective because they stood behind the gospel being preached to them, in contrast to the other communities with strange spirituality. They were doing well in that they did stand by the gospel. They hold fast the gospel Paul preached to them. Every one of us must take seriously our responsibility to not only have a good past, and a good present, but to be determined to have a great future with the Lord. At this present age, we are always tempted to go against the will of God; hence, all the more, we must hold on to Christ, the Divine healer.

The gospel today narrates to us another story of Jesus’ miraculous healing. Many people were seeking Jesus and were brought to Him, “one deaf and dumb, and they besought Him that He would lay His hand upon him.” Jesus responded by taking this man away from the crowd and performing His healing ritual.

Let us focus on todays’ gospel with these three important lessons:

First, Jesus healed a man who was not only deaf but also had a speech impediment, meaning to say, he cannot communicate with anyone. It was thru the man’s friend that he was brought to Jesus and begged for healing. Our understanding of being a Christian is to be in communion with others thru our love and faith. We are called to respond to the needs of others, regardless of race, color, and religious affiliation. I cannot understand other denominations who don’t welcome others if they don’t belong to their congregation. The Lord teaches us that we must go beyond our limits for the fulfillment of His commands.

Second, Jesus healed the man by taking him away from the crowd. Perhaps Jesus realizes that the man does not want to cause others to be envious and maybe was trying to avoid critical comments from the religious leaders. Jesus wants to do and fulfill His mission to sow love and compassion. He simply desired to make the man “whole” once again, and Jesus performs miracles away from the public eyes.

Third, “Jesus charged them that they should tell no one.”(v.35) This prohibition of Jesus to not say anything to anyone is an indication of Jesus’s will that everything is in accordance with the Father. Time will come when everything will be revealed which is perfectly acceptable to His Father in heaven.

What is our ailment, sickness, and impediment that we wish and pray to God for healing? What do we believe would make us healed and experience wholeness again? Do we have the courage and the faith in the Lord today? Do we believe in the power of healing with which Jesus is touching us today? Will we trust Him? Domine, clamavi ad te, et sanasti me. Lord, I cried unto Thee and Thou hast healed me.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
• Psalm 84:3-11
• Matthew 13:47-53

The World Youth Day 2023, Lisbon, Portugal is ongoing and led by Pope Francis. There are thousands of young people from all over the world to gather together and journey together in faith. It is needed that our young ones must come to one dwelling place where God is present and accompanied in their search for meaning and relationship with God.

In our first reading today from the book of Exodus, Moses’ gesture of fidelity to God followed God’s instructions and commandments to make a dwelling place. It was a place where Moses placed the Arch of the Covenant. The Israelites cannot move forward when the Dwelling was covered by clouds. And during the night, “fire was seen in the cloud by the whole house of Israel in all the stages of their journey.”

In our life, we must remember that when we are covered with unfaithfulness, anxiety, and sins, we stumble and are paralyzed. We only move when we are fully reconciled with God.

The gospel today is another parable about the Kingdom of Heaven from St. Matthew. It is likened to a net thrown away to catch all kinds of fish. God is generous to include all in His vision to be with Him in His kingdom. However, in the end, God separates the good and the bad.

Our attitude must be checked and the process of self-examination is indeed necessary. Does our life conform to His commands? Are we willing to influence others to be faithful to God?

Jesus fulfills the promises of God to us. He never rejects the old traditions but compliments them with His new insights. We must know how to discern the Word of God by asking the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us in our journey through life.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
• Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
• Romans 8:28-30
• Matthew 13:44-52

We are at the end of the month of July going through a hot summer. Here in Reno, the city is preparing again for various activities. The upcoming two popular events are: “Hot August Nights”, which is the outdoor display of antique or vintage cars, and “Street Vibrations”, which is the coming out of motorcycles on the streets. These events are nationally known throughout the whole US. They bring more tourists to this area, and it is good for the local economy.

Today’s readings for this 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time remind us of ways to deepen our minds to be able to make right choices, and the need for wisdom to understand how we become pleasing to God by our fidelity to do His will. Not only that, but we strive to be a blessing to others at all times.

The first reading from the first book of Kings is a story about young Solomon when God appeared to him in a dream. God said to him, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon was quick to ask for “an understanding heart, to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” God fulfilled this request by giving him the best gift, that is, the gift of wisdom and discernment, ”a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal.” Hence, if we believe that we have something that we want from God, it will be given to us according to His will. The more we are faithful to the Lord, God draws us closer to His heart. Psalm 69 says, “Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.” God’s heart is inclined to give us the best gift.

The Second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans has a beautiful verse we need to memorize, St. Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” I know that we are all called by God for a certain purpose, and because it comes from God, we expect that it is for our own good. God’s nature is Good, and so it is impossible that God would lead us to something that contradicts His very nature. If we are letting our hearts be possessed by God, and allowing His Spirit to live with us, we can truly clearly grasp our own purpose in life.

The gospel of St. Matthew presents a parable which is about discerning the true value of the Kingdom of Heaven in our spiritual life. By our pursuit of spiritual reality in life on earth, we won’t be poor and abandoned, for we lack nothing, for everything is given unto us if we seek His kingdom.

Let’s focus on these three examples of the Lord which seek these realities about the Kingdom of Heaven:

First, if someone finds a treasure buried in a field, a person has to sell his properties so that he can acquire the field where the treasure is in order to make a claim of ownership. At least we know that there is a future when we find the greater treasure which assures humanity of eternal blessings.

Second, “When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” I believe that what is of prime importance to us is we could easily give up other things in favor of the greater value. In the same way, when we have found Jesus, who is more than a pearl, it is worth risking everything for Christ because He is our priceless pearl. To be able to search and find Christ, we regain our true identity as His adopted sons restoring our dignity.

Third, “The kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind,….what is good is thrown into the bucket and the bad they throw away.” My understanding of this concept of heaven is that we are gathered together inside the net of God’s invitation thru His words. However, it calls my senses to be attentive and be attuned to my self-discovery and awareness. Some of us opt to a less committed outlook of our spiritual life and, therefore, are thrown away. Finding God is not anymore a potholed awareness; we enter into real conviction and intimacy with God.

In knowing about these parables of Jesus, it is necessary that we have constant discernment and an ongoing process of openness to His presence. Our intimacy with God is not a simple gesture of attraction and encounter, but rather it leads us to have greater attention that in everything small happening in our lives, we truly sense God’s love. Search the real treasure, sort it out, and find the priceless pearl. God is inviting us to intimacy in order to not be booted out.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El dictado del corazón:

Séptimo Domingo Del Tiempo Ordinario, Año A

• 1 Reyes 3:5, 7-12
• Salmo 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
• Romanos 8:28-30
• Mateo 13:44-52

Estamos a finales de julio y pasando por veranos calurosos. Aquí en Reno, la ciudad se está preparando nuevamente para diversas actividades. Los próximos dos eventos populares son: “Hot August Night”, que es la exhibición al aire libre de autos clásicos, antiguos y antiguos. La otra actividad es; “Street Vibrations”, que sale a la calle con motos. Estos dos eventos son conocidos a nivel nacional en todo Estados Unidos. Atrae más turistas a la zona y es bueno para la economía local. Debemos ayudar a nuestra comunidad.

Las lecturas de hoy para este decimoséptimo domingo del tiempo ordinario nos recuerdan formas de profundizar nuestras mentes para tomar mejores decisiones y la necesidad de sabiduría para comprender cómo llegamos a ser agradables a Dios por nuestra fidelidad para hacer su voluntad. No solo eso, sino que nos esforzamos por ser una bendición para los demás en todo momento.

La primera lectura del primer libro de Reyes es una historia sobre el joven Salomón cuando Dios se le apareció en un sueño. Dios le dijo: “Pídeme algo y te lo daré”. Salomón sabía lo que necesitaba y pidió “un corazón entendido, para juzgar al pueblo de Dios y distinguir el bien del mal”. Dios se complació con el pedido de Salomón y lo cumplió dándole a Salomón el mejor regalo, que era el don de la sabiduría y el discernimiento, un corazón tan sabio y entendido que nunca ha habido nadie como él hasta ahora, y después de ti no vendrá uno o igual.” Por eso, si tenemos algo que pedir a Dios y creer, Él nos lo dará conforme a Su voluntad. Cuanto más fieles seamos al Señor, Dios nos acercará más a Su corazón. El Salmo 69 dice: “Vuélvete al Señor en tu necesidad, y vivirás”. El corazón de Dios está inclinado a darnos el mejor regalo.

La segunda lectura de la carta de San Pablo a los Romanos tiene un versículo hermoso que necesitamos memorizar. San Pablo escribió: “Hermanos y hermanas: sabemos que a los que aman a Dios, todas las cosas les ayudan a bien, esto es, a los que conforme a su propósito son llamados”. Todos somos llamados por Dios para una determinada misión, y es para nuestro bienestar porque viene de Dios. La naturaleza de Dios es Buena, por lo que no sería imposible que Dios nos llevara a algo que contradiga Su misma naturaleza. Si permitimos que Dios entre en nuestro corazón y que su Espíritu habite en nosotros. Seríamos capaces de captar nuestro propósito en la vida.

El evangelio de San Mateo presenta una parábola sobre discernir el verdadero valor del Reino de los Cielos en nuestra vida espiritual. En nuestra búsqueda de la realidad espiritual en la vida en la tierra, no seremos pobres y abandonados, porque nada nos falta, porque todo nos es dado si buscamos Su reino.

Centrémonos en estos tres ejemplos del Señor que busca estas realidades sobre el Reino de los Cielos:

Primero, si alguien encuentra un tesoro enterrado en un campo, tendría que vender su propiedad para adquirir el campo donde está el tesoro para reclamar la propiedad. Al menos sabes que hay un futuro cuando encontremos el mayor tesoro que asegura a la humanidad bendiciones eternas.

Segundo, “Cuando encuentra una perla de gran precio, va y vende todo lo que tiene y la compra”. Creo que lo que es de primordial importancia para nosotros, fácilmente podríamos renunciar a otras cosas a favor del mayor valor. De la misma manera, cuando hemos encontrado a Jesús, que es más que una perla, vale la pena arriesgarlo todo por Cristo porque Él es nuestra perla invaluable. Para poder buscar y encontrar a Cristo, recuperamos nuestra verdadera identidad como su hijo adoptivo restaurando nuestra dignidad.

Tercero, “El reino de los cielos es como una red echada en el mar, que recoge peces de todas clases… lo bueno se echa en un balde y lo malo se tira”. Mi comprensión de este concepto del cielo es que estamos reunidos dentro de la red de la invitación de Dios a través de Sus palabras. Sin embargo, llama a mis sentidos a estar atentos y en sintonía con mi autodescubrimiento y conciencia. Algunos de nosotros optamos por una perspectiva menos comprometida en nuestra vida espiritual, por lo tanto, somos desechados. Encontrar a Dios ya no es más, una conciencia agujereada, entramos en una verdadera convicción e intimidad con Dios.

Nuestro conocimiento acerca de estas parábolas de Jesús, debemos tener un discernimiento constante y un proceso continuo de apertura a Su presencia. Nuestra intimidad con Dios no es un simple gesto de atracción y encuentro, sino que nos lleva a tener mayor atención para que en todo, aunque sea en las pequeñas cosas que suceden en nuestra vida, sintamos verdaderamente el amor de Dios. Busque el verdadero tesoro, ordénelo, encuentre la perla invaluable, Dios nos está invitando a la intimidad para encontrar esos tesoros celestiales.

Dios lo bendiga.

Padre Arlón, osa

• 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
• Luke 19:41-47

We are on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost. All Sundays after Pentecost are considered as the ordinary time in the Novus Ordo. It differs in liturgical terminology. However, it refers to the same notion that right after the Resurrection of Jesus, our faith must flourish and mature, which the color green symbolically represents. We utter this Psalm 53:3 included in the Introit prayer today, “Save me, O God, by Thy Name, and deliver me in Thy strength.” (Deus in nominee tuo salvum me fac: et in virtute tua libera me.) In faith, we cannot ignore the need of our dependence and total surrender to the Lord, our Savior, for without Him we can’t do anything.

The epistle today from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians expresses with clarity that Paul urges the Corinthians to learn from the mistakes of their ancestors’ unfaithfulness during which the Israelites were crossing and wandering in the wilderness of the desert. He reminded them that the chosen people’s behavior was explicitly described in verses 6 to 10. The unpleasant behaviors of the Corinthians were excessive sexual immorality and rumbling, or murmuring and complaining. It was a sort of repetition of misconduct against the mercy of God. St. Paul was concerned about the people of Corinth, which was causing great apprehension. There are possible references to each of these misconducts of the Israelites in the scriptures. It is interesting to note that these charges are pointing to a failure to be faithful to God. Perhaps, this is why Paul views that Corinthians need to be corrected because they are not only committing sins against the community, but they are sinning against Christ. (1 Cor 8:12).

This is also happening up to now, that is, the same sins of immorality and indulgence in lustful thoughts, actions, and promiscuity. We must heed the same warning of St. Paul saying, “Let no temptation take hold on you…” We are called to live in a manner that is faithful to the one who is the very source of our life and existence and living faithfully to this God, who is at the same time ever faithful.

The gospel today, taken from the evangelist Luke, gives us an idea that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, it was with great jubilation, joy and pride, indicated by the people vigorously waving the palm branches to welcome Him. People acclaimed Him with great honor and recognition expressing their desire to have a human king and leader. However, Jesus’ emotion was something different because people were standing along His path with much oppression from within themselves. That caused Jesus to weep, with deep sorrow and grief in His heart. It was then that tears began to flow from His eyes. It was an expression of sorrow towards the people of Jerusalem.

Why did Jesus succumb to despair and sadness, and He wept as He entered the city of Jerusalem?

First, Jesus has the desire that Jerusalem experience Peace. “If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace.”(v. 42) This lamentation expresses that Jesus wanted peace, but it was rejected. The two words, “thy peace,” express that it was rightful for the Israelites to receive that peace. In fact, the word, “Jerusalem” means, “the City of Peace or Shalem.” King David made this city the capital of Israel about 1000 years before Christ, because of its strategic secured location against other tribes, and it allowed him to build temples. It was blessed with its own sources of water from several good springs. King David wrote this Psalm 122:6, God’s people are exhorted to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” All ancient Prophets loved Jerusalem, but they also wept like Jesus because the city missed that opportunity to enjoy the gift of peace, even up until today. Jesus felt the anguish and sorrow of the city and of the nation it represents, the nation of Israel. Jesus was a Jew himself, and He prayed for His own people so that they should be blessed with peace in this world.

We believe in Jesus as God and Savior. He desires this peace so dearly for us. His weeping is an assurance that Jesus also sheds tears when we are all afflicted with difficulties because He knows and understands all of us as His children. He empathizes with our sorrows and pains.

Second, Jesus knows what awaits Jerusalem in verse 43. It was written this way, “For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, on every side and beat thee flat to the ground.” Jesus is all-knowing God and foresees the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Romans. According to history, Titus, the Roman General, and son of Vespasian, the Emperor, captured the city of Jerusalem and razed it to the ground. The destruction by the Roman armies was massive, and all that remained of the glorious Temple was just a wall.

I was fortunate to set foot and spend a long period of my trip to Jerusalem facing the Wailing Wall. Many Jews all over the world are praying and weeping because what remains are portions of that ancient wall still existing up to the present time for almost 2000 years. It was because they have rejected the Son of God. Although the Lord had given them the Law and sent prophets to them, they did not obey Him and seek after Him as a nation.

This gospel pericope reminds us of the ultimate cause of Jerusalem’s destruction which they failed to recognize the time of its visitation. This visitation refers to God’s visitation. It was not because they were ignorant about Salvation History, but they rejected Jesus, as God incarnate!

Let us avoid our own eternal destruction. There are many who failed to know and acknowledge the Lord. We must recognize Him in our lives and in our hearts and be sorrowful of our sins which destroy us or kill us, especially our unbelief. He knows your heart and God knows our indifference. He is grieving because of His great love for you. How much does He long for and weep for our salvation?

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
• Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
• Romans 8:26-27
• Matthew 13:24-43 or 13:24-30

On Saturday, July 15, 2023, I was installed by Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg, DD as the State Chaplain of Knights of Columbus at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church with the presence of the State Officers, Assembly and Council Knights, and lay faithful from different organizations like Legion of Mary and 2000 Hail Marys. They were there to witness that solemn occasion because I am also their Spiritual Director. God has given me another challenging task to take good care of all the Knights and their families in the whole State of Nevada. An eight-year-old girl named Rosalie from the Latin community, upon hearing the news about my installation, yelled and swiftly exclaimed, “Fr. Arlon being the State Chaplain, I understand, he is the little bishop of all the Knights.” I was aghast and smiled at her. I was surprised by her wittiness.

In today’s reading from the book of Wisdom, we hear that “Those who are just must be kind.” (v19) In every mission we take, we must be the source of goodness and justice which we need to teach and become models of good deeds. We must aim to do things to inspire others in order “to give them good ground for hope” and move them to seriously consider change and repentance. Our kindness must be not expecting anything in return. We have to give generously and lovingly of our time and talent.

The second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans says that “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.” He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Paul’s overall intent is clear: He wants to encourage us, especially when we feel our own weakness as if we are alone in such battle, but let us bear in mind that the Holy Spirit is praying for us. Even though we do not know how to pray as we should, we should be encouraged to keep praying. We must inculcate in our spirituality the virtue of hope to avoid distraction, only to think that these words continue to encourage us to persevere in our life of prayer.

In Matthew’s gospel today, I have always valued Jesus’ parables because He shares outstanding lessons of life. There are so many hidden realities about the kingdom on which we need to reflect and to search for the meanings revealed in ordinary events and ordinary realities.

There are three parables mentioned by Jesus where He encourages us to be firm in our faith. This is a challenge that we think deeply to unfold the reality of God’s Kingdom through simple usage of everyday things of which we simply don’t even pay attention.

The first parable, Jesus explains clearly, that “The Kingdom of heaven may be liked to a man who sowed good seed in his field.” Later on. seeds and weeds are growing together. While the Sower planted only good seed: some enemy has done the weeds. At harvest time, the crop of wheat, the good seed, and the mess of weeds will be collected: one for burning and the other for better use in life. This parable speaks about end time when the Kingdom of God finally comes to separate the good and the bad. We must strive, if we live on earth, for the best possible way to have good harvests or else we will remain to be weeds to be consumed by fire.

The second parable is Jesus’ shorter story, “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in the field….yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.” Mustard seeds are the smallest seeds that gradually germinate and become a big plant.

This parable reminds us of the small beginning of God’s kingdom which reveals the offering of the mercy of God to humanity and continues to stay in the mind and heart of all men. God called few apostles and continued to grow in number, then inspired the Church to fervently work for justice so that everyone would be assured to rest on their favors.

The third parable is about yeast. Jesus says, “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” This parable tells us of our spiritual experiences of God who is mysterious, divine, and infinite. A simple human experience gives us an idea of how God touches our hearts to manifest His kingdom. The yeast of our small human everyday experiences of forgiving and being forgiven does enrich the field of our personal lives.

Through these parables, Jesus invites a response of faith from us. Maybe a seed of fidelity will grow to banish weeds from within, and the yeast of goodness will continue to advance in our dealings with others.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El dictado del corazón: Decimosexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, año A

• Sabiduría 12:13, 16-19
• Salmo 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
• Romanos 8:26-27
• Mateo 13:24-43 o 13:24-30

El Sábado pasado, 15 de Julio de 2023, fui instalado por el Obispo Daniel Mueggenborg DD como Capellán de Estado de Caballeros de Colón en la Iglesia Católica St. Rose of Lima, con la presencia de los Oficiales de Estado, la Asamblea y los Caballeros del Consejo, y fieles laicos de diferentes organizaciones como; Legión de María y 2000 Ave Marías. Estaban allí para presenciar esa solemne ocasión porque yo también soy su Director Espiritual. Dios me ha dado otra tarea desafiante para cuidar bien de todos los Caballeros y sus familias en todo el Estado de Nevada. Una niña de ocho años llamada Rosalie de la comunidad latina, al escuchar la noticia de mi instalación, gritó y rápidamente exclamó: “Fr. Arlon siendo el Capellán de Estado, entiendo, es el pequeño obispo de todos los Caballeros”. Yo estaba horrorizado y le sonreí. Me sorprendió su ingenuidad.

En la lectura de hoy del libro de la Sabiduría, escuchamos que “Aquellos que son justos deben ser amables”. (v19) En cada misión que asumimos, debemos ser la fuente de bondad y justicia que debemos enseñar y convertirnos en modelos de buenas obras. Debemos apuntar a hacer cosas para inspirar a otros a fin de “darles una buena base para la esperanza” y moverlos a considerar seriamente el cambio y el arrepentimiento. Nuestra bondad debe ser no esperar nada a cambio. Tenemos que dar generosa y amorosamente de nuestro tiempo y talento.

La segunda lectura de la carta de San Pablo a los Romanos dice que “el Espíritu mismo intercede por nosotros con gemidos inefables”. El que escudriña los corazones sabe cuál es la mente del Espíritu porque Él intercede por los santos según la voluntad de Dios. La intención general de Pablo es clara: quiere animarnos, especialmente cuando sentimos nuestra debilidad como si estuviéramos solos en tal batalla, pero tengamos en cuenta que el Espíritu Santo está orando por nosotros. Aunque no sepamos orar como debemos, debemos animarnos a seguir orando. Debemos inculcar en nuestra espiritualidad la virtud de la esperanza para no distraernos, solo para pensar que estas palabras nos siguen animando a perseverar en nuestra vida de oración.

En el evangelio de Mateo hoy, siempre he valorado las parábolas de Jesús porque comparte lecciones de vida sobresalientes. Hay tantas realidades ocultas sobre el reino sobre las que necesitamos reflexionar y buscar los significados revelados en los eventos ordinarios y las realidades ordinarias.

Hay tres parábolas mencionadas por Jesús donde nos anima a ser firmes en nuestra fe. Este es un desafío en el que pensamos profundamente para desarrollar la realidad del Reino de Dios a través del uso simple de las cosas cotidianas a las que simplemente ni siquiera prestamos atención.

En la primera parábola, Jesús explica claramente que “El reino de los cielos puede ser semejante al hombre que sembró buena semilla en su campo”. Mas tarde. las semillas y las malas hierbas están creciendo juntas. Mientras que el Sembrador solo plantó buena semilla: algún enemigo ha hecho la cizaña. En el tiempo de la siega, se recogerá la cosecha de trigo, la buena semilla y el revoltijo de cizaña: uno para quemarlo y otro para un mejor uso en la vida. Esta parábola habla del tiempo del fin cuando el Reino de Dios finalmente venga a separar los buenos y los malos. Debemos esforzarnos, si vivimos en la tierra, por la mejor manera posible de tener buenas cosechas o de lo contrario quedaremos como mala hierba para ser consumidos por el fuego.

La segunda parábola es la historia más corta de Jesús: “El reino de los cielos es como un grano de mostaza que uno tomó y sembró en el campo… pero cuando ha crecido es la mayor de las plantas”. Las semillas de mostaza son las semillas más pequeñas que germinan gradualmente y se convierten en plantas grandes.

Esta parábola nos recuerda el pequeño comienzo del reino de Dios que revela la ofrenda de la misericordia de Dios a la humanidad y sigue estando en la mente y el corazón de todos los hombres. Dios llamó a algunos apóstoles y siguió creciendo en número, luego inspiró a la Iglesia a trabajar fervientemente por la justicia para que todos tuvieran la seguridad de descansar en sus favores.

La tercera parábola es sobre la levadura. Jesús dice: “El reino de los cielos es como la levadura que una mujer tomó y mezcló con tres medidas de harina de trigo hasta que toda la masa quedó leudada”. Esta parábola nos habla de nuestras experiencias espirituales de Dios, quien es misterioso, divino e infinito. Una simple experiencia humana nos da una idea de cómo Dios toca nuestros corazones para manifestar Su reino. La levadura de nuestras pequeñas experiencias humanas cotidianas de perdonar y ser perdonados enriquece el campo de nuestra vida personal.

A través de estas parábolas, Jesús nos invita a una respuesta de fe. Tal vez crezca una semilla de fidelidad para desterrar la cizaña de adentro, y la levadura de la bondad siga avanzando en nuestro trato con los demás.

Dios lo bendiga.

Padre Arlón, osa

• Romans 8:12-17
• Luke 16:1-9

Summer brings a little bit of uncomfortable moments due to warm weather. We are exposed to too much heat from the sun; however, in the evening it cools down. I believe God has been good to balance everything for us. We are His children and “in the spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father’.”

In today’s epistle taken from the Romans, St. Paul says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Being children of God, we realize that our work pattern in life must be according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. There are many people whose enjoyment in this world relies on fleeting things, like pornography and illicit immoral actions, walking according to the flesh; however, our obedience to the Holy Spirit is important to God who wishes that the Spirit should rule over our flesh. When we allow the flesh to reign over the Spirit, we find ourselves bound by the sinful pattern and desperation that marked St. Paul and St. Augustine in their true life struggles. Walking in the Spirit means that the course, the direction, the progress of one’s life is directed by the Holy Spirit. It is a continuous and progressive motion.

St. Paul is very clear to say this, “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption of sons whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.” Living as a child of God means having an intimate, joyful relationship with God, not like the bondage and fear demonstrated by the law. A child of God can have a relationship with God so close that they may cry out, Abba! Father! (Daddy!). It is easy for us to imagine Jesus relating to the Father with this joyful confidence, but we never consider that we establish the same posture and privilege of relating to the Father even as Jesus Christ does. Remember we are in Christ.

In the gospel today from St. Luke, we feel some kind of difficulty understanding this passage. Maybe we struggle because we can’t understand this parable about the “dishonest steward.” We focus too much on the crooked and deceptive manner of the steward rather than to grasp the intent of Jesus Christ. There are many things we need to consider so that we can have a better understanding.

First, the steward was so clever to plan ways to gain sympathy and to win more friends in order to save himself from being booted out as a steward because he was squandering the property of his business owner. In every difficult situation in life, we must be clever to find solutions and to see what we can do to gain eternal life.

Second, to rightly interpret the scripture passage, we look into the context, the cultural background and unity. In this case, I am looking into the ancient practices between the owner and the steward. At first, we thought that this steward was dishonest for allowing his master’s debtors to change all the numbers that were supposed to be paid to his manager. His dishonesty seems like he is allowing himself to steal and making himself appear as “good” due to his generosity to alter the said debts, but it was not the case here. In ancient practices, whatever loans of any person, the owner and the steward have to add a percentage or interest to what was borrowed. On the part of the steward, he was not stealing from his boss, rather he was giving up his own commission.

Third, the prudent steward was confronted with the decision of saving his life by making friends who would take care of him after he was fired or by trying to hold out to the end unto the possibility of making money by eliminating his share; hence, he chose to save his life. His master and Jesus, through this Parable, call him a “prudent and wise servant.”

We must remember that God has given us abundant opportunities, gifts and first, second and third chances to redeem ourselves from shame and iniquities. We profit much from all these gifts and make manifold commissions like the dishonest steward. Have we used them properly to work and to build the kingdom of God? Have we used them to the flesh or according to the Spirit? If we are living according to the flesh, then I believe that we are squandering God’s gifts on things simply for our own advantage. Jesus gives us this parable in order to have a thorough evaluation and examination of ourselves to make proper accounting. Jesus says that the “children of this age” are shrewder in dealing with their own generation than “the children of light.” If you are losing money from your business, the best way is to fix it right away. When it comes to making choices concerning our survival here on earth, let us work for our eternal best interest.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa