FAITH DOES NOT CONSIST IN SEEING GREAT SIGNS BUT IN RECOGNIZING THE WORD AND AUTHORITY OF GOD.

"Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”  (Matthew 12: 38 - 42).

Monday of the 16th Week of Ordinary Time.

I like the clear and authoritative words of Jesus to the Scribes and Pharisees. This is a paraphrase of the message:

You are looking for a big sign from Me before you believe that I AM the Messiah. Let Me tell you:
God is looking for genuine faith like He saw in Abraham and David, Mary, Jairus, the woman with the issue of blood.
The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. They recognized the word of God when they heard it. They did not ask for a sign as a condition for repentance.
If you cannot be led to repentance when your pastor preach the word of God, you are not serious.

The Church is the authentic sign of the existence and presence of God in the world today.
During the consistory of November 24, 2007, Pope Benedict said that the gathering of Bishops and people from every part of the world is a sign of the unity and universality of the Catholic Church. It is also a sign that God is with the Church. Such a gathering is not possible by human means.

Stop the spirit of Unbelief. Repent and believe the Good News.

7. 18. ASK THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST TO CLEANSE YOU AND EXPEL THE SPIRIT OF UNBELIEF.  DO THIS FOR THE REST OF JULY.

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"Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” (Matthew 12: 1 - 8).

Friday 15th July 2022, 15th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Bonaventure (1221 - 1274). Italian. Franciscan, Bishop, Cardinal and Doctor of the Church. Bonaventure is known as the Seraphic Doctor because of his mastery of mystical theology. He became friends with St Thomas Aquinas, another doctor of the Church in the University of Paris. St Bonaventure who succeeded St Francis of Assisi as the Superior General of the Franciscans wrote the first thorough biography of the great saint.

St Bonaventure, a great man of God by all standards was a very meek and humble man. Although Superior General of the Franciscans for 17 years, Cardinal of the Church, eminent Theologian and Professor of Theology at the University of Paris and later to become one of the 37 Doctors of the Church, Bonaventure is childlike in character.

In the Gospel for today, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of God’s purpose for the Sabbath.

"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy." (Exodus 20: 8).

The command to set apart the Sabbath is very important as seen from the way it is treated in Sacred Scriptures. It is the exaggerated concern for the obligation and sanctity of the Sabbath Rest that gave rise to hundreds of minutiae rules concerning the basic command to keep holy the Lord's Day.

Throughout the Christian history, the Magisterium of the Church has not only expounded on the sacred character of the Sabbath but has taught that the Sabbath was instituted for the enjoyment of the People of God. It is a day of worship of God. A day of rest for the whole family from the hustle and bustle involved in making a living. It is a day to enjoy the parks, watch Christian movies. It is a day to visit the sick in the hospital.

The Sabbath Rest is Rehearsal for Eternal life. One day, there will be no work. By obeying the law of the Sabbath, you build up your faith in this promise of God. God plans to redeem man and creation from the present servitude to work.

It is more enjoyable to keep holy the Lord's Day than to do anything unlawful on the Sabbath Rest.

"With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God. "The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath."  (CCC 2173).

Rejoice in God's generous provision of the Sunday Rest and use it to grow in spiritual and human maturity.

7. 15. We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.

“O my Most Sweet Jesus, O Jesus, Eternal High Priest, keep Thy priests in the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where no one can hurt them. Keep their anointed hands unsullied, which daily handle Thy Sacred Body. Keep pure the lips which are reddened with Thy Precious Blood. Keep pure and unworldly their hearts which are sealed with the sublime token of Thy glorious priesthood. Cause them to grow in love and loyalty to Thee and protect them from the contamination of the world. With their power of transforming bread and wine, give them the power of transforming hearts. Bless their work with rich fruit and grant them one day the crown of eternal life. Amen.”  (St Teresa of Avila).

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"WHOEVER DIES INVESTED WITH THIS SCAPULAR SHALL BE PRESERVED FROM THE ETERNAL FLAMES. IT IS A SIGN OF SALVATION, A SURE SAFEGUARD IN DANGER, A PLEDGE OF PEACE AND OF MY SPECIAL PROTECTION UNTIL THE END OF THE AGES." (OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL).

Some years ago, a friend of mine in the RCIA Ministry gave me a Brown Scapula. I hung it on the wall in my Prayer Area. On the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel a couple of years ago, I was inspired to put on that Brown Scapula. It was on my neck day and night. A few months ago, it fell apart from constant use. I prayed to Our Lady on inspiration on how to replace it. The prayer was answered immediately. Do not neglect Sacramentals.

Jesus is The Chosen Servant.
"When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many [people] followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known.  This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12: 14 - 21).

Saturday of the 15th week of Ordinary Time is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

My Servant shall not brawl or shout in the street.

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles." (Matthew 12: 18).

What words do we associate with Mount Carmel? The Prophet Elijah, the Carmelite Order, St. Simon Stock.

On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Simon Stock, the Superior General of the Carmelites in England and gave him the brown scapula. Mary promised her protection to all those who wear the scapula. This is the origin of the devotion of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapula. The brown scapula is one of the numerous sacramentals of the Church.

Isaiah tells us that our Gospel of today applies to Jesus the Messiah. Jesus makes a tactical withdrawal from Galilee in order to avoid head on collision with the Pharisees who had decided that Jesus must die. Huge crowd followed Him. He healed all those who were sick. Isaiah affirms the healing ministry of Jesus the Messiah whose mission is to make man whole in body, mind and soul.

Although Jesus did not brawl or shout during His public ministry, nor did anyone hear His voice in the street, He was nevertheless tried as a public criminal and suffered the death reserved for the worst criminal. What does this tell us about the plan of our salvation?

Have you not understood that just as the Son of Man must suffer before His victory and triumph, so must we suffer and accept some suffering in our life.
Do you not remember all the miracles performed by Jesus to prove that He is truly God?  How about all His miraculous interventions in our life?

Let us give thanks to God with a shout!

7.16. July is the Month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

“Blood of Christ, inebriate (intoxicate) me.”  (St Ignatius of Loyola).

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"WHO WILL TEACH ME WHAT IS MOST PLEASING TO GOD, THAT I MAY DO IT." (ST KATERI TEKAKWITA, LILY OF THE MOHAWKS).

Your yoke is tailor-made to fit you alone.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).

Thursday July 14th of the 15th week in Ordinary Time. The Church commemorates the life of St Kateri Tekakwita and  St Camillus de Lellis.

#1. St Kateri Tekakwita (1656 - 1680). Born near New York. Daughter of a Mohawk chief. Kateri died at the age of 24. She had great devotion to the Eucharist and Jesus Crucified. She is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks" and is the patron saint of ecologists, environmentalists, and Native Americans.

#2.  St Camillus de Lellis.  (1550 -1614). Italian. Priest. Camillus gave his life to Jesus after a troubled youth. He worked in Giacomo Hospital. While working here, he heard the call from God to found an order dedicated to the care of the sick. God gave St Camillus a special love for the sick. He founded the Order of the Camellians and improved the treatment and care of hospital patients.

The short Gospel for today fits St Kateri as hand in glove. God in His merciful and powerful Providence chooses the weak to accomplish great things. Kateri became a shining star for the Indigenous People of the Mohawk nation in North America.

What are your personal yokes and burdens today?

How many people today find the yoke of marriage unbearable? Or their daily employment intolerable? Think about the burden of debt or financial insecurity? Will this century turn out to be the century with the highest suicide rate among the youth?

Christ Jesus seems to proclaim in the short Gospel of today: "Listen to me! O that you will listen to Me! I have a solution to your dilemma. The Good News is that what you call unbearable yoke and burden are tailor-made to fit you alone. The burden is truly light and the is easy if you believe Me."

Four simple steps to turn around your unbearable yoke and transform it into a goldmine:

#1. Embrace God’s gracious will every moment of your life. Don't try to change God or His loving Providence and Plan for your life.
#2. Enjoy the Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament of the Present Moment. Jesus is Emmanuel, the God who is always with us.
#3. Learn to offer continuously a Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving. Thank God always even for what you see as little favors.
#4. Learn the power of Sweet Surrender. Letting Go and letting God is very powerful.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelation 3: 20).

"I am glorified when you honor my saints." Lord Jesus remember us who delight in honoring your saints.

"This is why it so grieves Me" , said Jesus to a mystic, "that churches are locked and that I am left for days on end alone in the tabernacle. I would draw souls to My open Heart, I would have them experience what it is to abide in the radiance of My Eucharistic Face, I would give Myself in intimate friendship to souls drawn to Me in the Sacrament of My love, but you priests, shepherds of souls, have forgotten that keeping open your churches is integral to your sacred ministry." (IN SINU JESU page 54).

7. 14. We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.

“Upon receiving Holy Communion, the Adorable Blood of Jesus Christ really flows in our veins and His Flesh is really blended with ours.” (St John Vianney).

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