"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." (St John Paul II).

"And he told them this parable:

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’

"He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13: 1... 9).

Saturday 22nd October 2022 of 29th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of Pope St John Paul II. (1920 - 2005). Polish. First non-Italian Pope in 455 years.  Beatified May 1, 2011 and canonized April 27, 2014. All by Pope Francis.  John Paul was an accomplished writer. He traveled all over the world to promote understanding between nations and between different cultures and religions.  He and President Ronald Regan contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

John Paul II wrote many important encyclicals. His enduring legacy is the Catechism of the Catholic Church which he promulgated in 1992.

Our key Scripture is the Parable of the barren Fig Tree. This is an allegory for the People of Israel. God wants a good return on His investment in Israel, the Church and in you and me.

How do we bear much fruit? Remain in Jesus.  What is the principle of productivity?  Abide in Christ.  How do we abide in Christ?

We live in Christ through the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a holy exchange of gift. Through it, Jesus shares with us His divine life. Another word for God's divine life in us is sanctifying grace.

Our fruitfulness depends therefore on this dynamic relationship with Christ living in us.
"Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit."  (John 15: 14, 15).

Fruitfulness is not addiction to activity.  It is believing God. It is knowing the will of God for you and doing it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. He will accomplish the work.

"I am the source of all fruitfulness in the vineyard that is My Church. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. Come to Me, then. Remain with Me. Act for Me, guided by My Holy Spirit, and return to Me with thanksgiving. This is the secret of a priestly life that will be pleasing to Me, will build up My Church, and will glorify My Father." (IN SINU JESU page 103).

10. 22  “To pray the Rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and His mother.” (St John Paul II).

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“The more deeply the cross penetrates, the better; the more deprived of consolation that your suffering is, the purer it will be; the more creatures oppose us, the more closely shall we be united to God.” (St Paul of the Cross).

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!

"There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!

"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:  49 - 53).

Thursday 20th October 2022 of the 29th Week  of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Paul of the Cross. (1694 - 1775). Italian. Priest, mystic, Founder of the Passionists. The charism of St Paul of the Cross is a profound understanding of the mystery of the Cross and translating this understanding into a plan of life. The Passionists founded by St Paul of the Cross were noted for a life of evangelical poverty and mortification. They are great Retreat Masters.  “Bury yourselves in the heart of Jesus crucified, desiring nothing else but to lead all men to follow his will in all things.” Wrote St Paul of the Cross.

Some people think that the Gospel of today from Luke 12: 49 - 53 is a hyperbole, that is, great exaggeration. Do you think so? Then look at a Crucifix. Is Jesus nailed to the Cross wearing a crown of thorns a hyperbole?

Jesus proclaimed: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" Jesus said in another passage that the purpose of His life is to proclaim the truth. If you belong to the truth, you will listen to His voice. He further said. If you do not belong to the truth, you will oppose Him.

Falsehood always opposes the truth. Cain murdered Abel. Esau hated his brother Jacob and would have killed him if he had the opportunity. The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery. Judas, intimate companion of Jesus betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. This tug of War still plays out relentlessly in families everywhere. Do not be afraid of those who oppose you because you have responded to the call of Jesus. Be rather afraid of failing to acknowledge Jesus before men. Jesus wants us to love our families and friends but never make idols of them.

Do you remember how David slew Goliath? Now see what weapons God has given us for the inevitable struggle of the present time:
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10: 4 - 5).

Our God is a consuming fire!

10. 20 “As she was the way by which Jesus first came to us, [Mary] will again be the way by which he will come to us the second time though not in the same manner.” (St Louis Marie de Monfort).

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"Vatican II’s Gaudium et Spes asks us to try to interpret the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel." (CNA)

"Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain—and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is.

"You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

"If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison.

"I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” (Luke 12:   54 - 59).

Friday 21 October 2022 of the 29th Week of Ordinary Time.

What are the Signs of the Times today? Consider a few of these:

1. Divisions in the Body of Christ.
2. Fragmentation of the Catholic Church into conservatives and liberals.
3. Climate change.
4. The war in Ukraine.
5. Rise in migration and refugees worldwide.
6. Global inflation.

Jesus says "You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

What can we do about these signs?
If you are in litigation and you decide that the outcome will not be favorable to you, you sue for peace. "If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison."

Let us hurry to do something about these grim signs of the times.
If you hear His voice today, harden not your hearts. Do not say: I have tomorrow. I will make peace with God tomorrow.  "You fool, this night, you face your Judge."

10. 21 Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful, Pray for us O Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

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"In the face of extreme suffering and hardship, these brave French [Jesuits] met violent deaths while serving God and the Church in remote areas of eastern Canada and New York state. They became known as the North American Martyrs." (Simply Catholic).

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

"Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”

"And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?

"Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

"But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

"That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”  (Luke 12: 39 - 48).

Wednesday 19th October 2022 of the 29th Week of Ordinary Time is  the feast of the North American Martyrs: John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions. All French and all of the Society of Jesus. Eight in all, six priests and two lay brothers. They labored day and night under harsh conditions with almost the certainty of martyrdom to bring Jesus Christ to the Native Americans. In faith these martyrs believed Jesus that He came to found an everlasting Kingdom of peace, joy and happiness for ever and ever.

It is God's will for all people to be saved.. "That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely." If you know that it is God's will for all to be saved and you do nothing, your judgment will be very severe.

"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Now that you know this, you will be blessed if you do it.

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

10. 18 "Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination." (15th Promise of the Blessed Virgin Mary to devotees of the Rosary).

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