About John Paul I

I enjoyed reading this reflection by Card. J.Ratzinger when he was archbishop of Munich, and I want to share it.
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Ostensus non datus: he was shown to us, not given. We might well say that of Pope John Paul I, whose winning smile made the world look and listen. The Italians called him, with much love, “II Papa del sorriso” (the smiling Pope), and the whole world followed suit. 

Laggja Mirdita September 2014

This is how our project in Laggja Mirdita, Durrës, Albania, stands now, 26 September. This was done with the support of Maltese benefactors. We still need your help to finish it, first through prayer and then through your donations.
Thanks for your support.
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Rejoice, it’s Mary’s birth!

Feast of the nativity of Our Lady (September 8)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 1, 18-23)

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 

This is the word of the Lord.

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More on infallibility

I enjoyed reading this blog by Mark Shea and I recommend it.

More about infallibility

Of mustard seeds and yeast

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfil what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world. (Mt 13, 31-35)

Jesus often delivered his teaching through short stories he told that were normally inspired by real life events. He did not speak in parables so as to hide truths from the uninitiated, or those who were not his followers. He was teaching the crowds, and he wanted them to understand his message. However, a little earlier Jesus told his disciples: “The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ The stories he told were quite simple but only those who were ready to listen could understand them. In some cases Jesus ended his stories saying: “Let anyone with ears listen!” Those who found it difficult to understand but really wanted to, asked Jesus to explain his parable and, as a good teacher, he did.

Aim high!

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 6, 1-6. 16-18)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. …

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

This is the word of the Lord.

On being born from above

A reading from the gospel according to John. (Jn 3, 7-15)

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

This is the Word of the Lord.

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