WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPENTHROUGH GOOD PEOPLE? - One Bread, One Body, 8/29/2013

Thursday, August 29, 2013, Beheading of, St. John the Baptizer

1 Thessalonians 3:7-13, Psalm 90:3-5, 12-14, 17, Matthew 24:42-51 or, Mark 6:17-29
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082913.cfm

"Herodias harbored a grudge against him for this and wanted to kill him." -Mark 6:19

Possibly the only one at Herod's birthday who wanted John beheaded was Herodias. Herod didn't want to kill John (Mk 6:20), and Herodias' daughter didn't think to ask for John's head until her mother put her up to it (Mk 6:24). Moreover, most of the people at Herod's birthday party may have thought it wrong to behead John. Even people with warped consciences can see the evil in the act of putting a freshly cut human head on a platter and parading it around a cocktail party.

One person can get away with committing an atrocity which no one else accepts when everyone is paralyzed to do anything about it. Herod was paralyzed by pride. Herodias' daughter may have been trapped by confusion or fear. Herod's guests were paralyzed by their egos, fears, or political ambitions.

Babies in the womb are murdered. Neighborhoods become paranoid through violence. Refugees are left to starve. Thousands upon thousands of people are annihilated through war. Yet hardly anyone wants abortion, violence, starvation, or war. These things happen because a thousand paralyzed Herods and party guests won't stop one Herodias. Conversely, one free, bold John the Baptizer will ultimately stop thousands of Herodiases. The Lord commands us: "Stand up and tell them all that I command you" (Jer 1:17).

Prayer: Father, make me fearless, resolute, pure, and free.

Promise: "May the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all, even as our love does for you." -1 Thes 3:12

Praise: In serving Jesus, St. John proclaimed that serving God was his "joy, and it is complete" (Jn 3:29).

THE WRATH TO COME - One Bread, One Body, 8/26/2013

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10, Psalm 149:1-6, 9, Matthew 23:13-22
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082613.cfm

"You turned to God from idols, to serve Him Who is the living and true God and to await from heaven the Son He raised from the dead - Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath to come." -1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

There is "the wrath to come." "A day of wrath is that day[,] a day of anguish and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick black clouds" (Zep 1:15). "How mighty is that day - none like it!" (Jer 30:7) "For great is the day of the Lord, and exceedingly terrible; who can bear it?" (Jl 2:11) "It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress" (Dn 12:1). On the day of wrath, many will cry "out to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the One Who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! The great day of Their vengeance has come. Who can withstand it?' " (Rv 6:16-17)

Hard and impenitent hearts are "storing up retribution for that day of wrath when the just judgment of God will be revealed" (Rm 2:5). "Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure the wrath of God" (Jn 3:36). Nonetheless, "God has not destined us for wrath but for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thes 5:9). "Now that we have been justified by His blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be saved by Him from God's wrath" (Rm 5:9). We can flee from (Mt 3:7) and be delivered "from the wrath to come" (1 Thes 1:10) by totally giving our lives to Jesus and living for Him alone. Accept the love and mercy of Jesus. Don't insist on receiving His justice. "There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rm 8:1).

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me so much that You sent Jesus to die for me and free me from the wrath to come.

Promise: "Our preaching of the gospel proved not a mere matter of words for you but one of power." -1 Thes 1:5

Praise: John used his retirement as a time to attend daily Mass while often accompanied by his son.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - One Bread, One Body, 8/1/2013

Thursday, August 1, 2013, St. Alphonsus Liguori

Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38, Psalm 84:3-6, 8, 11, Matthew 13:47-53
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080113.cfm

"Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the Israelites would set out on their journey." -Exodus 40:36

"The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another. Moses would then return to the camp" (Ex 33:11) and tell the people the Lord's wishes. The Lord also directed His people with the cloud which settled down over the meeting tent. When the cloud moved, the people moved. This communication system was simple and easy to follow. Nevertheless, it didn't work. The chosen people refused to follow Moses into the promised land because they were afraid (see Nm 14:9-10).

In the new covenant, the Lord communicates not only through people and things outside us, but also from inside us because He lives in us (Jn 6:56; 17:23). Moreover, He not only tells us what to do but also has given us a new nature through Baptism so that we are able to do His will. Because of Jesus, we can communicate deeply and intimately with the Father in the Spirit.

If we have difficulties hearing and therefore loving the Lord, we need only renew our baptismal promises and live fully our Baptism by repenting of our sins, submitting to the authority of the Church, daily hearing and living the Bible, and sharing our faith. Jesus promised: "Whoever is of God hears every word God speaks" (Jn 8:47).

Prayer: Father, may I hear You and love You as never before.

Promise: "My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." -Ps 84:3

Praise: St. Alphonsus received a communication from God so stirring that he left his secular life to live solely for his Lord.