JESUS MEANS SAVIOR. JOHN MEANS GOD IS GRACIOUS. THE GRACIOUS FAVOR OF THE SAVIOR, THE WORD OF GOD HAS GIVEN US JOHN, THE VOICE OF GOD AS A BRIGHT LIGHT FOR OUR JOURNEY OF FAITH.

"When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed.....

“What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel." (Luke 1: 57.....66, 80 ).

Thursday 23th June 2022, in the 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist.  How many Birthdays are celebrated in the Church's 365 days Liturgical Calendar? Only Three:

1. Christmas, Birthday of Christ the Lord - 25th December.
2. Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 8th September.
3. Birthday of St. John the Baptist - 24th June.

This indicates that John the Baptist is a significant persona in salvation history. Let us sketch a profile of St John the Baptist:

#1 His name is John: "God is gracious."
#2.  He was sanctified in his mother's womb. He kicked his mother hard in the womb with excitement when Mary visited Elizabeth.
#3. John was chosen by the Father to be forerunner of Jesus Christ and to prepare His way.
#4. John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan.
#5. His humility is supreme. He said: "He [Jesus] must increase. I must decrease." And he allowed his disciples to switch allegiance and follow Jesus.
#6. John gave his life for Jesus. He was a great martyr for Jesus.

"[John's] birth brought great rejoicing;
even in the womb he leapt for joy
at the coming of human salvation.
He alone of all the prophets
pointed out the Lamb of redemption.
And to make holy the flowing waters,
he baptized the very author of Baptism
and was privileged to bear him supreme witness
by the shedding of his blood."  (From the Preface of the Mass of the Feast.)

Jesus paid St John the Baptist one of the greatest compliments:
"For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  (Luke 7: 28 KJB).

John is the Voice. He is not the Word.
I am just a servant of the Word. He must increase. I must decrease. O Lord Jesus Christ, may all Your servants decrease so that You increase in us.

6. 23. FRIDAY JUNE 24TH IS THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. THIS IS WHY THE CHURCH MOVED THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST USUALLY CELEBRATED ON JUNE 24TH TO THE 23RD OF JUNE. JESUS EXPRESSLY ORDERED THE SOLEMNITY OF HIS SACRED HEART TO CELEBRATED ON THE FRIDAY AFTER CORPUS CHRISTI.
HONOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS BY ATTENDING HOLY MASS AND RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION THIS FRIDAY.

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"WHENEVER WE BEHOLD A PICTURE OF THE SACRED HEART, LET US MAKE AN ACT OF LOVE, SAYING WITH OUR HEART AND LIPS: "O MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE, I GIVE THEE MY HEART; GIVE ME THY HOLY LOVE!" A SINGLE ACT OF LOVE IS OF IMMEASURABLE MERIT." (ST ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, SJ).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7: 6, 12 - 15).

Tuesday 21st June 2022, in the 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga of the Society of Jesus. (1568 - 1591). Italian. Aloysius was heir to the Duke of Lombardy. He renounced his title and entered the Society of Jesus. Aloysius died at the age of 24 in the Jesuit House of Formation in Rome of the pandemic which he contracted while ministering to the victims.
Aloysius is known for his holiness, purity and chastity and humility. He had a powerful devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is the patron saint of the youth.

Many of us are familiar with our key Scripture: Broadway and Narrow Way. Now that you know the way that leads to Heaven, blessed are you if you follow it. (Cf John 13: 17).
The choice is stark. Choose high life, pleasures and amusements, and all the deceits of the Devil called the good life, you are on the Broadway that many choose.
The opposite is the Narrow Way. This is the Way of Jesus who says: I am the Way, the Truth and Life. He who follows me is on the Way to eternal life.  The Narrow Way is the way of prayer, the word of God, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Examination of Conscience, Spiritual Reading and Sharing your faith through ministry.

6. 21. "Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, he is to be honored with the worship of adoration. "To visit the Blessed Sacrament is . . . a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord" (CCC #1418).
(Paul VI, MF 66).

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THE SHOEMAKER  MAKES SHOES. THE TAILOR MAKES CLOTHES. THE PRIEST MAKES SACRIFICES.  THE TREE MAKES ITS KIND OF FRUIT. CHRISTIAN BEWARE OF TEACHERS AND PROPHETS WHO MAKE FALSE DOCTRINES.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”  (Matthew 7: 15 - 20).

Wednesday 22nd June 2022, of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast day of three giants of the Christian Church:
St Paulinus of Nola (355 - 431). French Bishop. Over a thousand years separated him from the two English martyrs we honor today. St John Fisher (1469 - 1535). Bishop and scholar. And his friend, St Thomas More (1477 - 1535). Lawyer, Statesman and Chancellor of Exchequer of King Henry VIII. St Thomas More is revered all over the world as the patron saint of lawyers.
St John Fisher and St Thomas More were martyred under Henry VIII for refusing to compromise the teachings of the Church.

When a Bishop lacks the grace of fortitude of his high office, he succumbs to the threats of tyrants like King Henry VIII. That is what the world saw in the England of the 1520s. King Henry, one single man born of a woman succeeded in intimidating the whole the English hierarchy. About 300 Bishops denied their Catholic Faith. Only Bishop John Fisher stood up to him and stood his ground. He refused to deny his holy faith. St Thomas More a layman stood his ground too. Both men suffered martyrdom. Today both men are celebrated all over the world. Henry VIII, where is your kingdom? Where are your 7 wives?

The false prophets may dress and talk like the genuine one. But ask which Way of life they promote? The Broadway in all likelihood. Follow the Narrow Way as Jesus taught.

Our Lord and Teacher says that" "You will know them by their fruits."
Sometimes fruits take long in coming but they surely come. Look at religious people who abused children under their care. For some of them, the bitter fruits take decades to show but they come.

By contrast, the good fruits produced by good teachers and prophets are formed by the Holy Spirit and show up in the lives of good Christians. They are :

1. Charity   🍏
2. Joy        🍊
3. Peace     🍐
4. Patience 🍓
5. Kindness 🍍
6. Goodness 🥝
7. Generosity 🍉
8. Gentleness 🍎
9. Faithfulness 🍋
10. Modesty     🍠
11. Self-control 🌰
12. Chastity       🥔

The most destructive fruits of the false teachers and prophets are:
"Immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts and orgies." (Galatians 5: 19 - 21).

Beware of such teachers and prophets. You are warned. If you are uncertain of how to discern their fruits, ask a seasoned and approved pastor or teacher in your Church.

6. 22. "O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in us faith, hope and charity. HEART of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee. O DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, free the holy souls in Purgatory." (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

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YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE 25TH EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN A BIG METROPOLIS. I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A VITAL AND INTIMATE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, THE EUCHARIST AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
ANYONE WHO CAN THROW LIGHT ON THIS, PLEASE SHARE.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”  (Matthew 7: 1 - 5).

What is Jesus teaching us in the Gospel for today? You may call it: Lesson in - No Complain, No Criticize, No Condemn.

If you can deal with complaining in your life,  you can eliminate temptation to criticize and condemn people indiscriminately. If you find that you must reprove a sinful behavior, pray to discern whether the task of gentle and fraternal correction is part of your gifts. If you must correct the offender, pray for the grace of wisdom and counseling. All these prayers can be made in seconds. "HOLY SPIRIT GIVE ME WISDOM AND COUNSEL TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION."

One way I deal with the fatal character flaw in me of complaining, criticizing and condemning people is using the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. St Philip Neri who is a renowned confessor and spiritual director teaches that frequent and good Confessions is one of the best ways to acquire humility. Think about it: Isn't pride the cause of our complaining, criticizing and condemning other people?

6. 20.  "Once, on the Feast of St. John the Apostle, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary and made known to her that the devotion to His Sacred Heart was, as it were, the last effort of His love to save mankind. He said that by this devotion He desired to annihilate the dominion of sin in the hearts of men and to establish in its place the dominion of love. In no way is this twofold purpose accomplished more perfectly than by the frequent and worthy reception of Holy Communion."  (DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS).

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