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The Dictate of the Heart: 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday | Thanksgiving Day in the US with Special Liturgy

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  Americans travel to get to their families’ homes during this national holiday to come together to celebrate annually every fourth Thursday of the month of November.  This tradition started in 1789 and became an official holiday in 1863 declared by President Abraham Lincoln.

Thanksgiving is historically a day to dedicate our time in gratitude to God, the Almighty, for the blessings received. It is also a day for all of us to attend Mass as a community in all Catholic Churches as an act of worship, giving thanks for all of God’s bountiful blessings.

In the Scriptures, there are several times the word “thanks” is mentioned. It is a word with a variety of meanings, like praise, sacrifice or a gesture of a profound relationship. We come to think that “thanksgiving” is focused on a relationship with one another and God.  Throughout biblical history, human beings have been grateful to God. In the same manner, early Christians, pilgrims in America and Native Americans, came together to celebrate their relationships in order to give honor to God who protects them from all dangers, being able to survive and enjoy their plentiful harvest from God.

There is much for me to be thankful for: family, good health, employment, being part of a faith community and many other blessings. It is also proper and appropriate to be thankful that we have survived from sickness, dangers, covid-19 and from other calamities. I account for all my blessings.  Then I ask myself the question, “What is the source of these unearned gifts?” The answer is God.  Over the years, we need to look back in order to realize that God is always accompanying us through thick and thin. God is totally in control over us in this world.  We cannot ignore the fact that God exists. By forgetting or denying His existence, we put ourselves in a labyrinth of no return, confusion, and restlessness.

On Thanksgiving Day, at least for a day, we give importance to our family, prayer, sharing and cooking food to give thanks to God.  Today’s gospel reading helps us understand the immense goodness of God and the importance for us to give thanks all the days of our lives. According to the gospel story, only one of the ten lepers that were cleansed came back and thanked Jesus and gave praise to God. Interestingly, he was a Samaritan.

First, this particular episode in the gospel reveals the foreshadowing of the salvation of mankind.  God’s salvation has been first offered to the people of Israel and, consequently, gentiles and sinners are the ones benefitting from it for they heard and fulfilled what Jesus asked them to do.  Returning to the Lord, with complete turnaround, signals what is being expected of us.

Second, many times, we take for granted all the blessings and healings we have received.  Hence, the gospel is an invitation to rediscover how ungrateful we are.  Maybe we need to follow the example of one of the lepers to acknowledge all God’s graces and return to Him.

Third, all graces of God always lead us to His offering of salvation. For all the graces and mercies I have received from God and others, I sincerely give thanks to God through my daily prayer.

St. Paul says, “I give thanks to my God always on your account.”  This is a classic example of living a life of thanksgiving for others. We should be giving thanks always and everywhere.  Even these words came from the lips of Jesus saying, “Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”  Jesus has been looking for the other nine lepers being healed. Maybe they wait for another Thanksgiving Day.

Let us not wait for tomorrow, procrastinating again and again.  Today at this present moment, we have many reasons for which to be grateful.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday

If we are faithful to seriously reflect on the scriptural readings everyday, which are divinely inspired, and understand them according to the teaching of the Church, then for sure we will surely live a life of faith and loving service. This final week of the liturgical year, we await exceedingly the grace of knowledge to see the heavenly abode.  Our commitment to our Christian life is based on this perspective, that is, to be welcomed by God in heaven.

This desire and willingness to journey towards heaven is not easy. Our life must be an offering of sacrifices, like being humble, being faithful in doing services and helping the poor, not being carried away easily by the secular world, maintaining our conviction against abortion, same-sex marriage and immorality, striving for purity of heart and mind, ending any habitual gossiping, etc. When we are faithful to God’s will, then we are on the sure path to holiness. We must keep the attitude of surrender to God, but there is a consequence; the world will hate us.

This is the message of today’s gospel from St. Luke. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives (Luke 21:17-19).  I know that this is our continuous battle. We will be doing what is exactly the opposite of the majority.  We will be at war against the main stream of social media and the voices rejecting God.  It is a scary place and time in which we live, but we stand up and cry out that this is the path where we find true happiness.  We need to do more praying and make more sacrifices.  I am sure that God is on our side.  He will never abandon us.

I pray conscientiously to find the strength to be firm in my faith, knowing that my sacrifices are worth my choice for God.  I am focused on the message of the Book of Revelation that good will triumph over evil in the end because Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain, gives us hope during the period of persecution.

Brothers and sisters, rest assured of my constant prayers for your struggles and challenges.  Please hang on to Jesus, for he will secure our lives in the happiness of heaven.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday

Since last week, the scriptural readings convey the end-time or the final return of God.  Reflecting on all those passages, I feel exhausted to think about how I should react and feel when the final day is about to come.  Should I be scared, warned or ignore this passing time which gives great tribulation and fear? However, preparation is at stake for all of us.

Actually, these readings speak about time.  Time, according to St. Augustine, is a measure of change, a linear of God’s mystery. St. Augustine says, “there can be no time without creation.”  So instead of being afraid, let us put the “end-time” in the context of God’s wonderful creation by watching signs about His own real presence, for He created all things.

From the first reading according to the Book of Revelation, it says, “I John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand,” which illustrates the time of harvesting.  I do not worry about the future, but I worry sometimes about how I spend my life and ultimately regret in the end, or i feel that I failed to be pleasing in the eyes of God because I am not going the right way. This passage speaks about being fully true to our commitment with God and to be fully alive each day according to God’s plan.  At the time of harvesting, I will enjoy the company of God whom I truly trust.  We should not wait, for this is the time of reaping.

The gospel of St. Luke points to the importance of following Christ in everyday life.  If we walk with the Lord, the final destination of the journey will end with inconceivable rewards. We are called to trust in Jesus’ words: “do not be terrified”.  I believe that if we always succumb to fear, it will paralyze us.

Let us ask the Lord to give us the grace of faith and perseverance to live out our faith and our love, and we will certainly come to experience the Kingdom of God here and now!  There is no reason to be afraid…only keep our relationship with God and others in perfect charity.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Monday

We are now in the final weekdays of the church’s liturgical calendar.  After this week, we enter the first week of Advent.  My reflections will continue; however, I will limit myself to reflecting on my homily on Sundays for Extraordinary Latin Mass and for the Novus Ordo Mass.  I am not yet fully recovered from my eye problem, and I feel the need to avoid too much exposure to the computer.  It has been more than two years that I have been putting much time and effort to share with you the Dictates of the Heart Gospel Reflections.

Today is the Memorial Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Mother. This feast has been celebrated by both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.  According to Church tradition, this feast originated in the 2nd Century taken from apocryphal source, protoevangelion or the book of James.  We know that the gospel of Luke 1 narrates to us about the Annunciation of an Angel to Mary; however, the presentation of the Blessed Mary as a child was narrated by James when Joachim and Ann went to the temple for the presentation of their child, Mary.

In today’s gospel, Luke tells us about a widow, who had given up her two small coins for Jesus, “for her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”  This poor and widowed woman offered all that she had, keeping nothing in reserve for herself in faith. Jesus praises the widow because she gives from her need, not from her surplus. I imagine her humility which we are inspired to follow by her example.

I believe that this is a teaching lesson and good motivation to those who are wealthy people, not to give from their surplus but rather to give according to what they can afford to give. Jesus does not say the gift of the wealthy is not generous, but only makes the comparison to the widow who had given more.  He does not criticize the wealthy, but rather extols the widow’s generous heart.

It is a prayer of action on the part of the poor widow.  She drops the two coins in the treasury expressing two important lessons:

First coin, she offers in thanksgiving to God who provides everything for her; hence, she is ready to give everything back to God, whatever she has and lost.

Second coin, she entrusts everything to God, all of her future or maybe the night of her soul. Then she walks away with resignation and satisfaction.

Today, God is asking us to be generous.  Detachment from material things need to be put into practice. Pray for those people who take advantage of your generosity as well. Let them find out that in the end there is retribution they have to pay due to their lies and deception.  Justice is not ours; our concern is our security with Jesus.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart:  34th Sunday of the Ordinary Time | The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

Today is the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe.  It signals the end of the Church liturgical calendar, Year C, in which we have enjoyed reading and hearing the gospel of St. Luke.  As Catholics, we are invited to reminisce about what we have learned during the year with complete love and humility to accept the lordship and authority of Jesus in our lives. We give thanks to God, through the Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout the year, for the knowledge and perseverance to be transformed as His children.

We have three inspiring readings taken from the Old and New Testament.  Our first reading from the book of the Prophet Samuel speaks about David being anointed as King of Israel, after all the elders came to him in Hebron.  He had already been anointed as the King of Judah which was a separate territory.  This event, making David the King of both Judah and Israel, was a very historical event. David was called to unite the divided land and be a king under God.  Then we read in the succeeding chapter of this book that David and his men marched and conquered the place of the Holy Cities in Jerusalem.

Jesus has two natures, human and divine.  His human family is traced from the lineage of King David.  Jesus is also the bone and flesh, not only of Israelites, but of all humanity.  By His coming, He triumphed against evil that besets humanity.  Jesus, as the Son of God, has given the authority that we need to bring the absolute common good of our Leader and Shepherd to our fallen humanity, to restore what has been lost and to bring us back to God.

The second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians tells us that we must be grateful to the Father who led us out from darkness through the power of His Son, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Jesus, the Beloved Son, has the power, the honor and the glory, and sits on the throne as our King. Moreover, St.Paul asserts that all creation emerges through the authority of God’s spoken Word: “All things were made through Him and for Him,” and through that same Word the fullness of life dwells and all things were reconciled.

The gospel for today narrates the drama that happened on top of the hill of Golgotha.  It was at the final moments of Jesus, who was hanging on the cross, that he was being ridiculed and humiliated by the Roman soldiers and one of the criminals.

There are three things that we must reflect on this gospel as we approach the mystery of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

First, Jesus on the cross with the title given to Him, “INRI” ( Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum) is the invitation from God to us that we must accept that Jesus is not only the King of the Jews, but the King of all humanity.  Jesus, hanging on the cross, is His gesture of love and acceptance of all our sins for healing and redemption.

Second, the two criminals crucified at both sides of Jesus represent human response to the Kingship of Jesus.  Some of us would say, as did one of the two criminals, “Save Yourself, and save us.”  If Jesus is the King, then He must save Himself first. This is a “wait and see” attitude, being passive and thinking only of personal benefits and not showing true conviction and faith.  However, the other criminal makes a prayer of faith, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) Jesus immediately offered the unmerited gift of eternal life from His Throne of Fidelity, that is Jesus’ cross.

Third, knowing Jesus our King, we must be filled with gratitude knowing how much He suffered to redeem us by His life and blood. It also gives us courage and hope that amidst our difficulties in the world, being threatened by “secular society” and continuous transgressions against God by many of us, Jesus remains to reign, who emptied Himself becoming a Servant-King even now, with His perfect mercy and love for our eternal salvation.

Today, as we offer this Eucharist in celebration of Christ the King, we too are exultating the Holy Name of Jesus, our King, as we prepare for our Thanksgiving Day. This mass is itself, thanksgiving.  May we reflect on the bounty of gifts, generosity, and goodness of God to provide and to support us with all His abundant blessings of peace and good health, for which we are grateful. It only takes a little time to offer our Thanksgiving Prayer with our family and loved ones.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

I have met some people who are honest to express that they are not sure where they go after death.  Of course, nobody knows but at least we have the hope that there is a place prepared for us when we die.  When we believe something in the context of our faith, then we are at least consoled in believing that there is life after death.  But how about those who have no faith and deny the resurrection?  I suppose that they have relied much on their shortsightedness, and they have done nothing to overcome obstacles which prevent them from seeing their way through.  My advice is to accept the Light, the Way and the Truth in Christ Jesus, who brightens our paths.

In the first reading today from the Book of Revelation, St. John had a vision about the two witnesses referring to olive trees and lampstands before the Lord on earth. These are symbols of a continuous supply of oil that keeps burning, referring to the Church, which gives enormous grace.  The beast will appear to wage war and kill them, and while their bodies lay on the street then, “after three and a half days, a breath of life enters them.” This is an image of darkness against the light. Finally the light won, “when a loud voice from heaven says to them, ‘Come up here,’ so they went up to heaven on a cloud as their enemies looked on.”  We are assured through the words of St. John that the Light conquers for those who have faith.

Knowing the gospel about some Sadducees denial about the resurrection makes us really sad.  I guess that life for them has its finality here on earth, and there is nothing to hope for eternal life.  Their way to justify their belief is by asking whose wife will the woman be when all seven husbands have died.

Jesus is direct to teach us that going to another state of life after death is totally different with regards to human relationships by which we live here on earth. Why?  Because we are like angels in company as children of God.  Therefore, we need not worry about marriage relationships because we will all be relating ourselves in love as brothers and sisters in God when we are there with God in a perfect and beautiful state of eternal life.  Do you think it is necessary to look for another relationship? For me I would rather enjoy the life of all eternity with God.  It is more sufficient to be with God rather than looking for another relationship, right?

Let us understand carefully that Jesus’ desire for us is to disconnect things we know as earthly and connect with those which are heavenly.   Our connections to this world will disappear in the afterlife, and only when we get to heaven will we pray for those who remain on earth for their salvation too.

God bless you,

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

Today, St. John continues to reveal his vision about how we should understand the intent of the Word of God through our faith.  The metaphor of swallowing the small scroll applies to the necessity of believing and accepting God’s Word which benefits the transformation of our whole being.  It may cause pain, but it is our need of catharsis in order to learn and grow better.

Being receptive to God’s word means our life-nourishment needed to survive and to change inside and outside for better resistance to walk towards God.

In the gospel reading, Jesus drives out the money changers and others making the temple a marketplace with no respect for the very center of worship, the house of God.  I imagine Jesus was angry for desecration of the temple.

Today is the memorial feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Apostles. A little bit of history helps.  This is not the feast of the building per se, but we remember what it represents, which is the “Church,” the Body of Christ.  Today we pray for all of us, the Church.

Emperor Constantine in 330 built a basilica of St.Peter. Reconstruction began in the 13th century, and it was consecrated on November 18, 1626, by Pope Urban VIII.  What is more significant of the construction of the basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul is that it was constructed over the tomb of St. Peter.  To those denominations who are claiming to be the true church, my question is this, “If the Apostles are members of the Church to which you belong, where do you think their sacred relics are?”  The basilica was finally reconsecrated by Pope Leo IX on December 10, 1854.

How many times have I heard Jesus having to deal with human emotion.  He is both perfectly divine and human.  Let us remember that God is “slow to anger and quick to forgive.”  Our God is loving, gentle, forgiving and is there to comfort us, and yet I am reminded to be humble and respect the edifice made for the divine worship.  Though possible expressed frustrations, we must also be accountable for how we truly respect churches, basilicas and chapels. May our actions and words be pleasing to God.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday

We are fortunate that every time we open our eyes when we wake up in the morning we give thanks to God for another opportunity and experience of God’s love and His presence.  I know that life’s difficulties are still there, but what is important is to choose our encounter with God daily.  If we pray for an absence of trials, then we miss the point “to recognize the time of His visitation,” which He desires to accompany us as we go through life.

The first reading today continues to reveal that there is that difficulty in welcoming the Lord on a daily basis. There are so many struggles in man’s life that result in failing to recognize the Lord’s visitation.  One of the elders said, “Do not weep.  The Lion of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scrolls with its seven seals.”  That lion mentioned surprisingly became the lamb that was slain, pointing toward Jesus, who offered Himself as a sacrifice. This is related to the passage from the book of Genesis 49.9.   St. John wrote the passage to support the persecuted Christians to seek comfort in the Lord, who is the lamb offering His blood for all of us.

The gospel today narrates that Jesus wept for the people of Jerusalem because they had an opportunity to take the peaceful way.  However, the people never realized that the visitation of the Lord was so decisive.

Many people today do not realize that either. Those who recognize the signs, and know that Christ is peace, gain that peace. Those who do not recognize the time of their visitation get destruction. Jesus weeps for them, knowing they had an opportunity to take the appropriate route but did not.

Many of us never realize enough that we are slow to acknowledge the surprising mystery around us.  We often look for the Lord in places of expected might and power, according to the world’s standards, missing Him where He chooses to show Himself in humility and not in power.

Let us pray that we open our heart and eyes to be quick in knowing that God manifests Himself in so many ways and forms.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday

The readings today seem to me difficult to understand. They come from the Book of Revelation and from the gospel of St. Luke and narrate about the Parable of the Talents.  I believe we need to spend time reflecting on the messages God wants us to focus on.

The Book of Revelation continues to unveil the secrets of the evangelist John right before our eyes. It is a clear vision of heaven when there is an image of 24 elders falling down in worship “before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever…exclaiming, worthy are you, Lord our God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, because of your will they came to be and were created.”  They throw down their crowns before the throne. It gives us an idea that in the end, we will surely face God on judgment day to assess ourselves.

The gospel is simply a correlation of that vision of St. John. Let me give you some points of how the master prepared the ten servants while he was on his journey to obtain his kingship. The master called them to engage in trading until he returns.  It was an opportunity for them to improve their sense of responsibility by giving them ten gold coins.

The first servant received a coin and invested it until his master returns. He was praised and rewarded because of his resourcefulness.  The second servant was able to increase five more and was rewarded. The last servant, afraid of losing the money, kept it until he returned exactly what he had been entrusted with. He was not praised and rewarded because he did not do anything to manifest his own initiative. Maybe the rest of the servants did not want him, thus he says, “I tell you, to everyone who has will be taken away.  Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.”

This master in the story is not referring to an angry God or a mean God.  However, this is to make us aware that ultimately, when we are given such great responsibility, we need to perform our job well and live righteously.  We need to take risks doing something that will bear much fruit. What we have received from God are means to prove that we could be trusted and to make use of those gifts for our own benefit and for others as well.  This is not to live here on earth by being lazy to preserve ourselves, unmindful of those entrusted to us.  By not being appreciative of so many gifts, wasting our time and our life, doing nothing to act now, then consequently, how and what could we do to present ourselves worthily in front of God.

Again, in today’s gospel, Jesus challenges each of us to make better use of our gifts received knowing that we are good and faithful servants.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday | Feast of St. Albert the Great

We have a parish in the diocese of Reno under the patronage of St. Albert the Great.  I have many friends who are parishioners of that parish.  I am excited to share his life in a very concise way.  St. Albert was born in 1200 somewhere in southern Germany.  He had a brilliant mind and deep love for God as a young boy.  In 1223 he joined the Domincan Order, became a religious priest and dedicated his life to preaching and teaching.  He was a great scholar who received different academic degrees and titles. He was called the greatest philosopher of the Middle Ages. Because of his holiness, writings, commitment to pastoral works and teaching ministry, he enlightened so many people, even up to this time, in particular the youth.  He died in 1280 in Cologne, Germany.

We live in a world where there is much confusion and lack of faith in God.  There are increasing numbers of both young and old people who are searching for the truth; however, their inclination is leaning towards believing in science rather than religion. I believe that our extra effort visiting the writings of St. Albert and other saints would help us understand that there is no conflict between science and faith.  There is an inherent harmony between the two because when we arrive at finding the scientific truth, then there is an opportunity for us to dwell on human reasoning for contemplation on the power of God.   We need to admit that our rational knowledge is a gift from God, which leads us to the understanding of faith; hence, we can be assured of the possibility of arriving at believing in God.

The gospel today is the story of a man, a tax collector, who was eager to see and learn from Jesus.  He was a smart person whose intelligence had been used to outwit people to his advantage.  However, hearing of the coming of Jesus, he was curious about Him.   On the part of Zacchaeus, it began as curiosity, then turned into his transformation and conversion.

When Jesus was being followed by numerous people, Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to find a better view of seeing Jesus from the tree.  Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Jesus was walking, followed by a huge crowd through Jericho. Immediately Zacchaeus offers half of his possessions to the poor and offers to pay back monies if need be.

In Luke’s gospel it is written that the crowd grumbled and could not believe Jesus was going to a sinner’s home.  However, Jesus’ heart sees that one sinner needs healing and salvation.

Most of us become a hindrance to someone’s desire to meet, to encounter and to know Jesus.  We become greedy and jealous if someone is getting more than we are.  Our natural tendency is to be envious and bring them down, and our insecurity becomes our defense.

Despite the attitude of the crowd, Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus to his home to share with his family and friends. Zacchaeus humbled himself by his personal experience with Jesus.  He was filled with gratitude and did not mind at all his critics.

This gospel story touches my heart so profoundly.  I am praying and hoping that every person must be aware of Jesus’ passing by in our lives.  Then, our relationship with Jesus is something precious that will happen to change us. Jesus’ voice is telling us to come down from our tree of pride.

Like Zacchaeus, I personally want to take this opportunity to be present with Him, taking action even if I am being confronted with so many obstacles and some risks in life.  I am certain that allowing Jesus to be welcomed in my heart is already a gift to sanctify my soul.

St. Augustine says, “Late have I loved Thee,”  However, it is never too late to return to God because He searches those who are lost.  When we think that we have wasted so much time for nothing, imagine Jesus saying, “Salvation has come to this house.”   I believe Jesus assures us of salvation, and there is so much joy and His warm embrace which dissolves all guilt, hurts and pains.  It’s never too late.

Remember that our being short-sighted would never close opportunities for our journey to God.  Not only having a short stature like Zacchaeus, but our own disabilities can also be assets to be closer to God.

Let us get out and watch Jesus come closer to various types of people. He wants to deal with us just as He ministered to people in small towns like Jericho.

Jesus helps us to move forward if we repent sincerely like Zacchaeus.

St. Albert, pray for us.

Fr. Arlon, osa