23rd Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

September 7, 2014
Liturgical readings
Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 95
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

"Where two or three are gathered in Christ's name, Christ is with them."

This Sunday's passage from Matthew's gospel is divided into two themes in the Jerusalem Bible translation: fraternal correction (Mt 18:15-18) and prayer in common (Mt 18:19-20). Three passages previous to Mt 18:15-20 speak on the themes of God's kingdom, avoiding sin, and compassion for the sinner. Then the two succeeding passages to Mt 18:15-20 speak on forgiveness of injuries and the practice of mercy. The three previous passages and the two succeeding passages act as a framework for Mt 18:15-20 and provide the context to help hearers and readers understand the social implications of this Sunday's gospel - social implications that require compassion for the sinner, forgiveness of injuries and fraternal correction.

Misunderstanding one another is part of political, economic and social life. Even St. Jerome and St. Augustine of Hippo had their differences. They corresponded angrily with one another over just one scholarly detail in their understanding of the faith. But despite the mutual suspicion between the two, both Saints worked out their differences. And it was their desire for reconciliation and peace in Christ that earned them their haloes. Eventually, both were able to discern what God wanted of them. All the faithful can learn from their good example: how both hurdled their intellectual feud and managed to reconcile in Christ. All Christians can work out differences in any conflict by focusing attention on Jesus as the source of reconciliation. Peace is possible in Christ Jesus. Time, prayer, and the wisdom from above are important.

"Where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them". Prayer unites minds, hearts and souls in Christ. And this is the very reasons the Eucharist is a very important Sacrament. In religious communities, members often take time for retreats and recollections to help iron out the differences among themselves. And the Eucharist often is the ultimate antidote to the spiritual poison that divides communities into factions and cliques. Families also do the same in their own creative ways. And parishes also take time to form their members of the process needed to forgive one another and to correct one another with charity. It is done without force, anger or pride. Christ is present in the Eucharist. He is the source of all correction from vices; He heals all hearts from the cause of war.

Scripture quote:
"If two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatever, it should be granted you by my Father in heaven. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst."(Matthew 18)

Memorial of Saints (September 4)

St. Rose of Viterbo had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a young girl. After some years, she began preaching in the streets of her hometown in support of the Pope, and at the same time denounced prophetically the Emperor Frederick II. When the allies of the Emperor sought her death, Rose fled to Soriano. In 1250 A.D., as she had predicted, the Emperor died. When the nuns at Viterbo refused Rose admittance to their convent, Rose returned to her parents' home and passed away at an early age of 17 (died ca. 1252 A.D.).

St. Rosalia dedicated her life to God since her youth. She went to live as a hermitess in a cave and practiced self-discipline and prayer. After some years, she transferred to Mount Pellegrino where she continued her life of austerity, penance and deep prayer. St. Rosalia is the principal patron saint of Palermo, Italy, because of her role in ending a plague that struck the region in 1640 A.D. (died ca. 1160 A.D.).

St. Ida of Herzfeld was raised in the court of Charlemagne. She got married to Egbert, but became a widow early in her marriage. She then spent time helping the poor. When her son Warin became a monk at Herzfeld, she moved out of her estate at Westphalia to be near her son. With her means and influence, she built a convent so that her works of mercy and charity with the poor will be continued. It is in this convent that she spent her last years (died ca. 825 A.D.).

Sts. Marcellus and Valerian were Christians when the persecution against the faith was launched by Marcus Aurelius. Both were imprisoned but managed to escape. Marcellus was sheltered by a pagan whom he had converted to Christianity. Priscus, the governor, had Marcellus arrested and then sentenced to death by burying him in the ground up to his waist. Marcellus died three days after this ordeal. Valerian on the other hand was also recaptured and then martyred like Marcellus by being beheaded at Tournus (died ca. 178 A.D.).

St. Marinus was a Croatian stonemason and worked in the quarries of Rimini. His companion stonemason, St. Leo, became a priest; Marinus became a deacon. Leo then went to Montefeltro while Marinus continued to work on an aqueduct for 12 years. After someone falsely accused him, Marinus fled into the mountains and spent his life as a hermit. A monastery grew up around his little hermitage. Later, a town, which would be named after him (San Marino), grew also around the hermitage and the monastery. St. Marinus is the patron saint of the tiny republic of San Marino near northcentral Italy in the Adriatic coast (died ca. 4th century A.D.).

St. Boniface I was elected Pope in 418 A.D. He was already old at the time. A dissident faction in the Church wanted Eulalius instead as the Pope. But Emperor Honorius settled the dispute by deciding in favor of Boniface I. As Pope, Boniface I opposed Pelagianism. He supported St. Augustine in upholding the orthodoxy of the Christian faith (died ca. 422 A.D.).

St. Ultan of Ardbraccan was a bishop of Ireland. He was known for his evangelizing abilities, knowledge of the faith, and his charity towards the less fortunate. Catholic tradition says that he collected the writings of St. Brigid of Ireland and wrote a biography about her (died ca. 657 century A.D.).

22nd Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

August 31, 2014
Liturgical readings
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

"He must deny self, take up his cross, and follow Christ."

Mortification is a term we often hear during the Lenten season. But it's an important element of Christian life, and must be considered even outside of Lent. Its meaning is rooted in Christ's self-sacrifice for all the faithful on the Cross. Mortification need not be external, or something done out of obligation. Rather, it can signify one's desire to purify the heart, and make it more pleasing to the Lord. It can be more time for prayer or more acts of renunciation: like efforts to be kind at work (even if one feels lazy); giving up something as an act of charity; or simply behaving well behind the wheel - despite others' misbehavior and bad conduct on the road.

In this Sunday's gospel, Peter did not yet see the full meaning of following his Master. When the Lord said He would suffer, Peter did not accept it. Yes, he confessed Jesus as the Son of the living God. But, the suffering Christ he could not accept in his understanding of his Master's mission. Of this gospel passage, author Bishop Fulton Sheen writes: Peter "would have a half Christ" - the Divine Christ, but not the suffering, Redeeming Christ. What Jesus therefore called in Peter as "the Rock", had now become a "stumbling stone" for His obedience to His Father. It would not have led to this, had not Peter guarded his heart from Satan's intrusion.

Monastic spirituality also has much to teach today's world about the virtue of mortification and self-denial. St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153 A.D.), whose feast was celebrated last August 20, teaches that there are two enemies of the soul: a misguided love for the world, and an excessive love of self - two realities modern culture does not notice in its ways of work and life. But if the faithful today were to take time to pray and reflect, and notice this direction in specific areas of life and work, it can be resisted. The Lord gave the Church the corrective: to "deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus". God gives all life and work as a gift. It is a also a responsibility that has to be worked on with Christ's self-sacrificing example.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and ruin himself in the process? The Son of Man will come with his Father's glory accompanied by his angels. When he does, he will repay each man according to his conduct." (Matthew 16)