Christ's temptations, our temptations

The Catholic Church invites us to celebrate the Holy time of Lent. Lent is an important time. It is a very sacred time. During Lent, the Church invites us constantly to prepare for the celebration of the mystery of Easter. This sacred time leads us to Holy Thursday, when we evoke the Last Supper and the institution of the Holy Eucharist. On Good Friday we meditate the passion and death of Jesus, and, finally, on Easter Sunday we celebrate with joy the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis explains 

why your money won't save you

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THE REAL ARGUMENT OVER 'AMORIS LAETITIA'

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A view from above

Let your light shine

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 8, 16-18)

Jesus said to the crowd: “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” This is the word of the Lord.

“Why do persons light a lamp? Why do we switch on the lights?” This is a question nobody is asking Jesus, however Luke reports him saying that one lights a lamp and puts it on a lampstand “so that those who enter the (house) may see the light”. Matthew’s rendering of Christ’s words is slightly different in that he states that one lights a lamp and “it gives light to all in the house” (Mt 5, 15). Let us remember that Luke is addressing former gentiles who are entering the Church, while Matthew is writing to Jews the Chosen People of God. For Luke, light is a sign of welcome; for Matthew it is a sign of deeper learning. For both Matthew and Luke, and for Jesus the fundamental message is that light is to be shared with those in the house and those who are outside in the dark.

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"How is your heart, today? "

Pope Francis suggested that we should ask God for the grace of “the wisdom to make peace, in the little things of each day, but aiming at the horizons of the whole of humanity,” especially today, in which “we are living a war and all are seeking peace.” And in the meantime, he said, it would be good to start with this question:

“How is your heart, today? Is it at peace? If it is not at peace, before speaking of peace, make sure your own heart is at peace. How is your family, today? Is it at peace? If you are not able to bring peace to your family, your rectory, your congregation, bringing it more peace, then words of peace for the world are not enough. This is the question that I would like to ask today: How is the heart of each one of us? Is it at peace? How is the family of each one of us? Is it at peace? That’s how it is, isn’t it? To achieve peace in the world.”

(Mass at the Casa Santa Marta - 08.09.2016)

Do not let fear paralyse you

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew. Jesus said to his Apostles: ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. This is the word of the Lord. (Mt 10:24-33)

“Have no fear of them” Jesus told his twelve apostles when he was instructing them before sending them on mission. Who are those who the apostles should not fear? What is the source of this fear? A few verses before today’s gospel selection Jesus warns the apostles: “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them.” I can imagine a question coming to their minds: “Why is he sending us like sheep to face wolves?” Indeed, he did not send them to face wolves, but he knew that wherever they went they would find wolves, and they would have to face them. Jesus himself faced this problem. When he became man, the Son of God knew that he would be among friends and foes, those who would listen to him and help him and those who were always planning against him. That is why he told them also that “it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master”. It seems to me that Jesus wanted to encourage them on their mission, so he told them not to fear, and he wanted to channel their enthusiasm at the power given to them, for the apostles could easily rejoice at their success so Jesus told them “not to rejoice that the spirits are subject to them; but to rejoice that their names are written in heaven”. (cfr. Lk 10, 20)