Sunday, July 9, 2017

Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.”  Matthew 11:25

What a profound truth to understand!  For many, if given the choice to be either a “little one” or “wise and learned” it can appear that being wise and learned is more attractive.  The problem is that, according to Jesus, those who are little children are in fact far more wise and learned than those who simply act this way.

Those who are childlike are the ones who have the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven revealed to them.  They are given a special grace to penetrate the truths of God’s inner life.  This reveals, in part, the simplicity of God’s inner life.  God and His will are never confusing and complex.  We may make Him seem confusing and, as a result, experience God’s wisdom as overly complex.  But in reality, the truth and beauty of God is only discernable by the simple mind who lives in a humble way. 

One tendency we can all have is to spend excessive time and energy trying to “figure out God’s will.”  We can think, and think and think, talk and talk and talk, and in the end remain in confusion about this or that.  If you find yourself in this situation, of thinking too much and ending in confusion, then this is a sign that you may not be properly discerning the will of God and may not be allowing yourself to properly hear Him speak.

God speaks to us simply, clearly and only what we need to know, when we need to know.  Therefore, it’s important to always approach our Lord in a humble and simple way, waiting for Him to speak the simple and profound truth we need to hear in His time.  Ultimately, it comes down to patience with our Lord.

Reflect, today, upon whether you find yourself spending excessive time thinking about the mysteries of life only to be left confused.  If so, seek to grow in humility so as to allow the Lord to reveal the simple yet profound truths He desires to reveal.  Strive to be childlike in God’s eyes and you will become wiser and more learned than you could ever become on your own.

Dear Lord, help me to have a simple and childlike faith in You and, through this simple faith, come to know the beautiful mysteries You desire to reveal to me.  Give me wisdom and knowledge, dear Lord, beyond what I could ever obtain by myself.  Jesus, I trust in You.

by Monsignor Aaron Brodeski

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

“Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.”  Mark 14:22a-24

Happy Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God!  What a Gift we celebrate today!

The Eucharist is everything.  It’s all things, the fullness of life, eternal salvation, mercy, grace, happiness, etc.  Why is the Eucharist all this and so much more?  Simply put, the Eucharist IS God.  Period.  Therefore, the Eucharist is all that God is.

In his beautiful traditional hymn, “Adoro te Devote,” St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “I devoutly adore you, O hidden Deity, Truly hidden beneath these appearances.  My whole heart submits to you, and in contemplating you, it surrenders itself completely.  Sight, touch, taste are all deceived in their judgment of you, but hearing suffices firmly to believe…”  What a glorious statement of faith in this wondrous gift.

This statement of faith reveals that when we worship before the Eucharist, we worship God Himself hidden under the appearance of bread and wine.  Our senses are deceived.  What we see, taste and feel do not reveal the reality before us.  The Eucharist is God.

Throughout our lives, if we were raised Catholic, we were taught reverence for the Eucharist.  But “reverence” is not enough.  Most Catholics reverence the Eucharist, meaning, we genuflect, kneel, and treat the Sacred Host with respect.  But it’s important to ponder a question in your heart.  Do you believe the Eucharist is God Almighty, the Savior of the world, the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity?  Do you believe deeply enough to have your heart moved with love and profound devotion every time you are before our divine Lord present before us under the veil of the Eucharist?  When you kneel do you fall down prostrate in your heart, loving God with your whole being?

Perhaps this sounds like it’s a bit excessive.  Perhaps simple reverence and respect is enough for you.  But it’s not.  Since the Eucharist is God Almighty, we must see Him there with the eyes of faith in our soul.  We must profoundly adore Him as the angels do in Heaven.  We must cry out, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.”  We must be moved to the deepest of worship as we enter into His divine presence.

Ponder the depth of your faith in the Eucharist today and strive to renew it, worshiping God as one who believes with your whole being.

I devoutly adore you, O hidden Deity, Truly hidden beneath these appearances.  My whole heart submits to you, and in contemplating you, it surrenders itself completely.  Sight, touch, taste are all deceived in their judgment of you, but hearing suffices firmly to believe.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age”  Matthew 28:18-20 (Year B Gospel).

The Trinity!  The inner life of God!  The Greatest Mystery of our Faith!

We all are used to the idea that there is one God.  And we fully accept that this one God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  On the surface, this seems like a contradiction.  How can God be one and three at the same time?  It’s a mystery that is worth penetrating and contemplating.

First, we need to understand that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three divine Persons.  Each one distinct from the other.  Each Person has a perfect intellect and free will.  Each one is capable of knowing and loving to a perfect degree.

But it is this “perfection” of their ability to know and love that makes them one.  They each share in the one divine nature and, within that divine nature, are perfectly united.  This means that each one knows and loves the other perfectly.  And that knowledge (an act of their perfect intellect) and love (an act of their perfect will) brings about a unity so profound and deep that they live and act as one God.

What’s also inspiring to know and understand is that the unity they share by their mutual knowledge and love also offers each one of them perfect fulfillment as a Person.  This shows that “personhood” is fulfilled by unity.  What a wonderful lesson this is for each of us.

We are not God, but we are made in God’s image and likeness.  Therefore, we find fulfillment in the same way that God does.  Specifically, we find fulfillment in life by our love of others and our freewill choice to enter into a knowledge of each person, forming a communion with them.  This will take on different forms depending upon our relationships.  Of course, husband and wife are called to share in the deepest unity in imitation of the life of God.  But all relationships are called to share in God’s life in their own unique way.

Reflect, today, as we celebrate this Trinity Sunday, on the relationships to which God has called you.  How completely do you imitate the love of the Trinity in your relationships?  Certainly we will all find areas in which to grow.  Make a commitment to take another step deeper and, in that step of love, allow God to give you a greater fulfillment as a result.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help me to know You and to love You.  Help me to discover the love You share within Your own divine life.  In that discovery, help me to also love others with Your heart.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I trust in You.

by Msgr. Aaron Brodeski