Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” If you silence your mind and listen intently to today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:18-22), you can hear God; he’s calling you by name to follow him. He’s calling you to be “fishers of men.” Christ called two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, to follow him and “immediately they left their nets and followed him.” He called James and John who were fishing with their father and “immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.” What was your response to his call? Did you say yes or are you waiting for a time when it doesn’t interfere with your life. Jesus chose those who were willing to follow him and help him teach the Word of God. These men were not special people, they were ordinary common fishermen. They were not well educated individuals accustom to giving theological talks. They were not Rabbis who knew the scriptures inside and out. They were common people just like you and I. They were people who decided to commit their life to spreading the Word of God. God takes ordinary people and helps them do extraordinary things. Jesus is the light of the world. We are called to share that light through our actions, our practices and in everything that we do. We are to lead others into Christ’s nets so they to can become Lambs of God. We are to express the joy and happiness of Christ so that others desire nothing else but to be his children. Do your actions lead people to or from Christ? Are you willing to answer the call to be a leader for Christ?

A Simple Prayer

God, I hear you calling, but I am weak.

Fill me with the strength to be a beacon for Christ.

Help me to be a witness to the Good News of the Gospel.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Today’s Gospel reading (Luke 21:21-28) is the third part of the apocalyptic message we have been hearing for the past couple of days. In the message, Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and warns the Jews that “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled.” In this story, Jerusalem will be punished because she has broken her covenant with God. So what message does that have for us today? Catholic tradition states that Israel represents the church. The church that survives the devastation of 70 AD is referred to in the Bible as the New Jerusalem. Therefore, out of the punishment of Israel, a new church rises from the ashes. This New Church is baptized in glory of Christ. Jesus tells us, “They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” The chosen people are no longer Jews but include all of humanity – “the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” At this time, the Gentiles, who do not belong to the Jewish faith, are now made part of the church. Every living human being is made part of the church. This is the good news; this is Christ telling us that the church is now open to everyone.

The last part of the passage foretells of our own day of judgment. “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” All of us will die and all of us will be judged by the Son of Man. This Day of Judgment will either be a sad day or joyful day for us. At your day of judgment, will Christ praise you for your labor or punish you for your wickedness. The hope of salvation is placed in our souls at birth. We have a natural desire to be good and want forgiveness. We all hope for eternal life. However, we do not all do what is necessary to achieve eternal life. We must be sorrowful for our sinfulness and beg Christ to have mercy on us. We do not want to end up like the old Jerusalem, destroyed by the armies, but like the new church, raised in the glory of Christ. During this advent season, we should prepare the way for Christ. We should clear the trail to let him into our lives. Most of us think of Lent as a time of reflection and penance, but we should take the opportunity during Advent to do the same. This year raise a new church in your soul, stand erect and raise your head because Christ the King is coming.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I am the New Jerusalem; let me stand tall and erect.

Give me the strength to raise my head so I can face my judgment.

Help me prepare the way of the Lord in my soul.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“This will be a time for you to bear testimony.” Today’s Gospel reading (Luke 21:12-19) is a continuation of the reading from yesterday. The Gospel tells us what will happen if we standup for our faith. Jesus tells us, “they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.” Is this not still true today? Do we not see people still be persecuted for their belief in God and for following Christ? Have you ever heard someone called a “Jesus Freak.” Just try inserted Jesus into a conversation and see if it does not yield a silent pause for the other participants. Have you ever been accused of being too religious? Many of us withdraw and subdue our religious beliefs and convictions so we do not get labeled or ridiculed. Jesus says not to worry “for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” In other words, Jesus is telling us to stand tall for our beliefs because he will being standing right there with us to protect us. Jesus is calling us to be martyrs for our faith. What’s interesting is that Jesus says that you will be delivered to the synagogues and the prisons. Therefore, you will be persecuted not only by society in general, but also by people who go to church with you. He says, “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake.” This passage gives testimony to the depth of faith Christ is calling us to have. We must be willing to put it all on the line for him. We must be willing to carry big signs that say, “I am a Christian and I believe in God.” You should not hide your faith but display it for all to see. You should scream Christ when you walk down the street. And most importantly, you should have confidence in your beliefs. We are called to be living witnesses for the good news and joy presented in the Gospels. Do not be afraid of your faith. It’s ok to be a Jesus Freak.

Yours in Christ

Lord Father in heaven, I am your soldier;

Defender of the faith, martyr for the gospels.

Give me strength to bear witness to the Good News

Give me strength to withstand those who will judge me

For your name’s sake, for I am your loyal servant.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 21:5-11) we hear the Jews admiring their great temple in Jerusalem. In response to their joy, Jesus begins a long eschatological discourse on the end of the world. Today’s gospel deals with the destruction of the beautiful temple in Jerusalem. Jesus tells his disciples, “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” He tells them this not to scared them, but to prepare them for the events that are coming. He tells to “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” This same message is true today. The church is under attack by society. Every time you turn around you hear another attempt to remove Christianity out of society. We can no longer have the Bible in public places; pornography is running rampant on the internet and abortion is an after-thought. Jesus told his disciples to take heed and not to be led astray. That same warning is given today. We must be careful not to follow the false profits which are leading us to a moral decline in our society. The Jews came under attach by the Romans and the temple was destroyed. However, the faith the Jews persisted and the church surveyed. We are under attack by a society so focused on money and wealth that our temple will also be destroyed because of the weakening of the foundation. Jesus told the Jews “to not seek signs but rather to seek God's kingdom.” We too must seek the kingdom of God for it is through the narrow door which leads to the kingdom that we shall find salvation. Today’s message may appear apocalyptic, but it is actually a message of hope; a hope that is founded in the glory of the kingdom of God.

A Simple Prayer

"Lord, your grace and mercy abounds even in the midst of turmoil and destruction.

Increase my hunger for your kingdom and help me to be faithful to your word.

May nothing, not even the fear of death or the loss of all that I have,

deter me from seeking you and the coming of your kingdom with hope and joy."

Yours in Christ

Michael F. Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“She out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 21:1-4), we hear the story of the widow’s mite. Jesus is sitting with his disciples when “He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins.” This act was so significant that he said to his disciple, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.” So what is Jesus really telling his disciples? Today’s message is about sacrifice. Being willing to give not out of our excess but out of what we need. He is not complaining about the offerings of the rich, but celebrating the fact that a poor woman gave everything that she had. This shows a true love and trust for God. The rich offerings were from the excess of their lives, but this woman sacrificed everything of value that she had. The poor woman gave two coins, the only coins she had. She could have given just one coin, but she gave both coins leaving her nothing. Some might say that this was foolish and reckless of the woman and I would agree. Christ calls us to be reckless with our love for him. He call us to give everything we have to him. What we have to offer the Lord may look pitiful and insignificant and not of much value, but if it truly comes from the heart, if it is truly a sacrifice then that gift will be graciously accepted by the Lord. This Sunday, we begin the season of advent where we are in preparation for the coming of the Lord. What gifts and sacrifices are you offering to prepare the way for the Lord?

A Simple Prayer

Lord, your love for me knows no bounds.

I know that all that I have is a gift from you.

I pray that I have the strength to give it all back to you.

I pray that I have the strength to give my life, my gifts and my talents back to you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“My house shall be a house of prayer.” In today’s gospel (Luke 19:45-48), we see that Jesus drives the merchants and traders out of his Father’s temple telling that they have made his house “a den for robbers.” This gospel reading for some reason reminds me of the Capital One commercial - What’s in your temple? – with a bunch of barbarians around robbing you of your faith. The true heart of the gospel asks the question, “What do you store up in your heart?” Are you more concerned about the material things in the world, the clothes that you where, the car that you drive? Or, are you more concerned with what Jesus sees inside your heart, the charitable acts that you commit and the prayer time you give him. Jesus ran the merchants out of his temple and so must we drive the material desires and sinfulness out of ours. We are about to enter into a new liturgical season. The season is the preparation for the birth of our Lord. Unfortunately, this season has become less about the preparation and more about material commercialism. Christ wants us to stop and reflect upon our inner desires to make sure they are pure. He wants to lead us into a life of reflection and reconciliation where we see the error in our ways and focus our eyes on his truth and justice. There are those who would like to destroy God in your life, but do not let them in. It is time to run them out of the temple and return it to a true house of worship.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, yours is the Temple of Truth and Justice.

Help me empty the temple of those who would rob my feeling for you.

Purify my actions so that they are pleasing to you.

Cleanse my thoughts so that they are not that of the materialist.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Today is a most special day in America - today is a day of thanks giving. Today we are supposed to give thanks for all those gifts which we have received. Today we are supposed to thank God for all our blessing. When God created the universe and all the things in the universe, “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.” (Gen 1:31) Nothing created by God from the smallest creatures to the largest of buildings was created out of anything bad. Everything on this earth has the opportunity to be used for something good. It is our choice to make the world a good home.

My cousin sent me a letter out of the Magnificat which beautifully addresses the concept of Thanksgiving. I repeat that letter here.

At a first communion mass, the priest asked the First Communicants to tell him what they thought heaven was like. One child said it was a place of beautiful mountains and rivers. Another that it was overflowing with clouds. A third said it was a place filled with angels. And then the priest asked my friend’s young nephew, who replied, “Heaven is like home.” And of course, no truer words could be spoken than those by that seven-year-old mystic. For if home is the people who love us and care for us like no one else on earth…and if, as Pope Benedict XVI insists, “Jesus himself is what we call ‘heaven’” then heaven is like home. During this month of November when we commemorate the communion of saints with special love and devotion, may we, with the confidence of a child, grow in our conviction that heaven is like home.

A very happy Thanksgiving Day to you and you family! May your family reunions… may you homes… belike heaven.

The gospel reading for today is about peace and the joy of peace. Today, ask for peace so that we can experience this joy. When you pick up your knife and fork today, remember to give thanks even for the little things, for today this knife and fork are being used to celebrate Thanksgiving.

A Simple Prayer Lord, I thank you for everything you created on this earth. May I use your creation to make this world a home for all. May I use your creation to make this earth heaven for everyone.

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Well done, good servant!” In today’s gospel reading (Luke 19:11-28), Jesus tells the parable of the pounds. In this parable, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’” In this first part of the parable we see that the nobleman trusts his servants because he entrusts the servants with his wealth. The servants are to trade and barter with the riches until the nobleman returns with the kingdom. God has entrusted us with all his graces. Each of us has been given a bounty of grace from which to barter and trade. These blessing which God bestows upon us are our test. When the nobleman returned he called forth his servants to see what they did with the money. The first came forward, saying, “Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.” And the nobleman replied, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” The second servant came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” And he said to him, “And you are to be over five cities.” Then another servant came forward saying, “Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?” The kingdom of God is present among us. God has entrusted us many talents and gifts to help foster the kingdom of God here and now. If we use these gifts to help prosper the kingdom, God will repay us with a bounty beyond our comprehension. The size of our reward is based on the size of our heart. The more we do, the more we give to others, the more God entrusts upon us. But if we hoard our talents and gifts and keep them hidden in a napkin, we will be punished and lose everything we have been given. Our reward lies in the kingdom of God. We all hope to spend eternity in the kingdom with God. Eternity starts today. Do not wait until tomorrow because it may be too late. What gifts and talents has God given you? Are you using this gifts and talents to further the kingdom of God or do you squander the gifts and keep them hidden from others? At this time of Thanksgiving, we should focus thanking God for giving us gifts to share with others.

A Simple

Oh dear Father in Heaven,

You grace me with so many gifts and talents.

Give me the strength and wisdom to use these gifts wisely

So they will bring about the kingdom of God to others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.” In today’s gospel reading (Luke 19:1-10), Jesus meets Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of Jericho. In the time of Jesus, this was like saying he was major sinner and cheat. Zacchaeus was a small man who could not see over the crowd. He was determined to see who Jesus was so he climbed up into a sycamore tree. When Jesus saw him in the tree, he said, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus was the lowliest of lowliest and yet Christ called upon him. Not only did he call Zacchaeus, he wanted to enter his house. Already, the gospel reading has so many lessons. Zacchaeus has to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, Zacchaeus has to have faith, and most importantly Zacchaeus has to be humble.

Zacchaeus was not just a tax collector but the chief tax collector. Therefore, he had to go amongst a crowd of people who had deep hatred for him. He had to humble himself before those who hated him. To see Christ, he had to elevate himself above the crowd. He had to elevate himself above the smallness of his sins. This was a demonstration of his faith and trust in God. What is Zacchaeus’ reward? Christ says to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” If we desire salvation, we must elevate ourselves above the crowd, we must humble ourselves and we must have faith. Zacchaeus hears the word of God and “So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.” There was no hesitation by Zacchaeus. The grace of God had been given to Zacchaeus through the mercy of forgiveness.

He heard the call and answered it with faith; a faith that included reconciliation. Zacchaeus agreed to pay back fourfold anything he obtained unjustly and he gave half his wealth to the poor. Zacchaeus’ repentance was not because he was rich, but because he did not share the gifts that were given to him. This same scenario is played out everyday when Christ calls our name and we answer. Today’s gospel reading call us to do more then answer, we need to repent. We need to be willing to restore what we have done wrong and we need to be willing to share the gifts that God has given to us.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I raise myself up to see you.

Call my name and I will come.

I welcome you into my home.

Fill it with grace and mercy

so that I can share with others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 18:35-43), Jesus is on his way to Jericho when he is confronted by a blind man. The blind man is sitting on the side of the road when he hears a crowd of people passing by. The blind man is curious and wants to know what is happening. The crowd tells him that Jesus is passing by. Hearing the good news he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd is annoyed at the blind man and tells him to be quite. Ignoring the crowd, the blind man calls out even loader. Jesus, hearing his plea, commanded that the blind man be brought over to him. Jesus said to the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” This story has several key messages. The first is that the blind man proclaims Jesus and the Messiah, the Son of David. Even though he is blind, he can see clearly that Jesus is the Son of God. Secondly, the blind man is persistent in his cries for help. He does not let things get in the way of his desire to see Christ. He ignores the crowd and continues his pleas. The third message is the healing. Jesus tells the blind man, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” So why did the blind man receive his sight? Not because of his cries, but because he was persistent in his faith. The blind man asked Jesus to have mercy on him. This act of faith touched Jesus. The blind man prayed with conviction, with urgency and with persistence. He did not give up after the first cry for help. We too must pray persistently, but most importantly, we must with conviction and with urgency. We must ask Christ to have mercy on us and to give us our sight. If we are blind to the will God, then we too should cry out, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” God will reward your plea because of your faith.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, let me receive my sight.

Let me see your mercy and grace.

Let me see your wonder and awe.

May I never overlook the love which you pour out for me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 17:20-25), Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees wanting to know “when the kingdom of God was coming.” Jews at the time of Christ were busy in anticipation of some great sign that would signify the presence of the Messiah. This busy anticipation for “the coming” sounds like some of the Evangelical Ministers we see on TV today. So many of them preach that the signs are present, we know the end times are near. Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; …for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” In other words, Jesus is telling the Jews to stop looking for signs, the kingdom of God is already here. After responding to the Pharisees, he turns to his apostles and provides a prophecy about the next coming of the Son of Man, “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Jesus is telling us to stop worrying about the next coming of the Son of God, you will have no problem recognizing it. Everyone, good or evil, will know when the Son of God has arrived. There will be no question that he has arrived. It will be like one of those unexpected thunderstorms that builds with great expectations and finally unleashes its announced by the trumpets of thunders and lighting dancing in the ski. At this time, all the world will be judged. However, everyone who dies before the end of the world will find themselves before the Son of God. You will be judged immediately. Therefore, Jesus’ message is also one of individual preparation. Not only must we be worried about the salvation of the church, but we must be worried about our own salvation. Are you ready for your judgment? If you died today, what would Jesus think about your heart? Would it be pure or would it remain corrupt with hatefulness and concupiscence. When you examine your conscience at night, do you honestly judge your sins or are you focused on what others did to you. Pray for clarity in your examination so you can truly be sorrowful for your sins. “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you,” are you helping to reveal the kingdom?

A Simple Prayer

Lord, have mercy on my soul.

You are my judge and my jury.

I bow down before you sorrowful for my transgressions.

Purify my heart so I can see the kingdom of God today.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks.” In today’s gospel (Luke 17:11-19), Jesus is teaching us about reverence and respect. How many times have we asked God for help? How many times were we in a real pickle and needed his help? How many times have we promised to do something if he would just help us out of this jam? And how many times have we got down on our knees and prostrated our selves to thank the Lord for everything he has done for us? The gospel starts out with Jesus traveling between Samaria and Galilee when he came upon a group of lepers. There was one Samaritan and nine Jews. There was no love lost between these two groups. In fact, if it weren’t for the infliction of leprosy, these two groups would not even be together.

The ten lepers cried out to Jesus, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They did not ask to be cured but for Jesus to have mercy on them. To have mercy means to have pity on them. Jesus, feeling their pain and suffering, told them “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” The Mosaic Law called for Lepers to be separated from everyone else and not to leave their groups. Being obedient to Christ, they get up to go to the priest. As they went to the priest, they are cured. Their faith in God was expressed in their obedience to Jesus. While all ten were probably extremely elated that they were cured, only one, the Samaritan, was grateful. “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks.” This gratitude was a sign of the true love for the grace that was bestowed upon him. One would have expected this from the Jews but not the Samaritan. This is the ultimate sign of reverence to God to prostrate oneself in thanksgiving for his mercy and kindness. Jesus says, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

We must always remember to be grateful for the gifts which have been given to us. If we do not thank God for his mercy, we become ungrateful. Ungratefulness becomes a sign of expectation meaning that we expect God to do what we ask. We expect him to obey our commands and do our bidding. Ungratefulness leads us to be uncharitable with our own gifts and treasures. We become selfish and become unable to express true mercy and kindness for our fellow man. This is in direct opposition to the will of God. Do you show gratitude and mercy towards your neighbor or do you become complacent and expect things?

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I want to thank you for all you have given me.

I want to thank you for your mercy which you give me unconditionally

I want to thank you for your compassion and kindness

I am afflicted and you make me clean

Thank you!

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

PS – God is love, God is kind, God is merciful.

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” In today’s gospel reading (Luke 17:7-10), Jesus’ message is all about commitment. How many times have you heard someone say its about giving 110 percent. Today’s message is about 110%; about doing more than what we think is expected. Jesus provides an image which we are to follow. When we are done plowing the fields, should we expect to sit at the table of God. No. We must be willing to give everything we have to God because he has given everything to us. It’s when we think that God owes us something or that we expect something in return for our labors that we fall short. There is nothing we should expect in return for our labors. If we are done plowing the field, then we should prepare a meal for him. We can never repay God for what we has given us. Man can never satisfy his debt no matter what service he provides. Therefore, we should provide service to our Lord with only the satisfaction that we can provide service to him. This is selfless and unconditional love to God. God honors the servant who is faithful and generous. We are called to generous to our fellow man. Our generosity is God working through us for others.

A Simple Prayer

"Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love, gratitude and generosity.

Make me a faithful and zealous servant for you.

May I generously pour out my life in loving service for you and for others,

just as you have so generously poured yourself out in love for me."

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!” In today’s Gospel (Luke 17:1-6), Jesus gives us a two-fold message followed by words of hope. The first message is dealing with leading others astray and the second message is regarding forgiveness. We all know that sinning is wrong and that “temptations to sin are sure to come,” but Jesus tells us that causing others to sin is even worse. This raises our sin to the level of scandal. If we cause others to sin we destroy God’s desire for our redemption. If we block their way by leading them to sin, we steer them away from the resurrection and into eternal death. Jesus tells us that “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” If we cause others to sin we are causing them to drown and then our punishment would be likewise.

As we are ordered not to lead others to sin, we are also ordered to forgive those who sin against us. If we see someone sinning, Jesus tells us not to follow their example. But if they ask for forgiveness, we are to forgive them. He tells us, “if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, `I repent,' you must forgive him.” If causing others to sin is such a great sin, then leading others to forgiveness is extremely pleasing to God. It is by our example that God rewards us.

So how is it possible to live both these demands from God? Hearing this message, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” And Jesus replied, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.” Everything is possible for those who have faith. We can perform miracles if we have faith. Last night during Life Nite we talked about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and by exercising these gifts, we produced various fruits. The gifts of understanding and knowledge lead to the virtue of faith. Therefore, by asking God to increase our faith, we are asking God increase our awareness of the gifts of understanding and knowledge. These gifts which are placed in our soul increase our understanding and knowledge of the truth. Understanding prevents us from becoming apprehensive to the truth while knowledge allows us to be practical in the judgment about truth. These two gifts allow us to clearly see God’s truth as it has been set out before us. If we see God’s truth, then how can we lead others to sin and how can we not forgive those who trespass against us? If we see the truth and the light and yet lead others away, how condemned is our soul for we know what we do is wrong.

A Simple Prayer

God, you have graced my with many gifts including the gifts of the Holy Spirit,

Increase my awareness of each pf these gifts, but especially understanding and knowledge

So that I, by my example will all souls to heaven and not direct them away from redemption.

My most blessed students asked me to end this message with a simple saying and reminder to us all.

God is love!!

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” In today’s Gospel reading (John 2:13-22), we hear the story of the cleansing of the temple. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for the preparation of the Passover. When he arrives in the temple, he finds the traders and money-exchanges have made the house of the Word of God a marketplace. So why would Jesus care if the temple became a marketplace? The temple was a place where people would come to worship God, to pray and to reflect upon the Word of God. How difficult is it for us to pray when we have all these distractions around us? In addition, the temple would have become overwhelmed with the smells of wild animals and their droppings. The putrid odors would have distracted from the reverence of the Temple. The house of God had become defaced by the market place. Jesus cleansed the temple of those things that defiled it. We too are called to purge our own temples, our bodies of those things that defile us. Our body is a temple and must be kept clean. It is time to cleanse our souls, our hearts and our minds. Purifying our body is an important process of preparing us for our own death and resurrection. We need to be diligent in keeping our own souls pure and clean. This is done through inward reflections and an examination of our own conscience. Most importantly, it is done through Reconciliation.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, help me to recognize that my body is a temple of God.

May my faith and love for you help keep it clean and purified.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” In today’s Gospel (Luke 15:1-10), Jesus tells us the story of the lost sheep. The parable starts out, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” The Pharisee and the scribes were not happy with him fraternizing with “sinners.” But Jesus’ acceptance of these open sinners shows the deepness of his love. It does not matter how serious the sin, Christ will always accept you back into his fold. He tells them that if a shepherd with 100 sheep looses one, would he not leave the other 99 to get the one which is lost. When you loose something and have to search frantically, do you not rejoice when you finally find it. That’s how God feels when we finally realize that our sins are wrong and we come to God for forgiveness and salvation. Gods tell his angels, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Jesus told his disciples, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” We are all sinners, but we are not all good repenters. As sinners, we are drawn to Christ because of his mercy and kindness. When we repent, Christ wraps his arms around us to give us that consoling warmth of his forgiving love. Christ wants all his sheep in heaven. There is not one she he will not fight for. He does not want us out wandering lost in the wilderness. Seek Christ and his forgiveness. Seek the Eucharist for it is the bread of life and our salvation. Seek reconciliation for it is truly a celebration with God. No matter what you have done, no matter what sin you have committed, Christ will be there to receive you with open arms and he will celebrate your return with joyous music.

A Simple Prayer

Christ, you are the light of my salvation.

You lead me to the truth and the way.

Forgive me of my transgressions which are many

Because I want to be in the protection of your arms.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 14:25-33), Jesus tells his followers that they must surrender everything to be his disciple. The gospel reading actually says, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Hate seems like a very strong word. To hate our mother and father seems to be a violation of one of the Ten Commandments. But in this gospel reading the word hate means to “prefer less.” So why would Jesus use such strong language? Why couldn’t he just say you need to love God more? Jesus used this approach to signify that nothing, absolutely nothing should be held higher and with more importance than God. Everything we have belongs to God and was given to us by God. Jesus’ Father gave him a task to save us from our sins. Jesus knew that this would eventually cost him his life, yet he was willing to make this ultimate sacrifice for us. We too are called to sacrifice our lives for Christ every day. We must be willing to give all for our Lord. Jesus says, “So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is telling his disciples that the kingdom of Heaven is theirs if they are willing to make the sacrifice, all you have to do is give up everything. You must be willing to give everything to God. So what do we get in return for this sacrifice? We get eternal communion with God in the next world. We receive eternal joy and happiness that completely overwhelms the body and soul. Joy to a level you can not even imagine. Is that not worth the ultimate sacrifice?

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I have many riches which you have given me,

Give me the strength and the will to give these riches back for your glory.

It is through you that I will see the kingdom of heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the invited guests. In this parable, a man is giving a great banquet and invited many. But the guests found excuses not to attend the party. “The first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’” When the man heard that the guest were refusing to come, he said, “Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.” Then the man said, “Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” God is holding a great banquet and has invited each of us.

This great banquet is the celebration of the Eucharist, the celebration of Reconciliation, the celebration of Confirmation. The banquet is all those activities which bring us closer to God. We are all invited to his table to eat the bread of the kingdom of Heaven. How often do we find excuses not to attend his banquet? I’m too busy, I’ve got sports or I’ve got homework. If God invites us to know him, we should sacrifice everything we are doing so that we can accept the call. The reasons we find not to attend are just excuses to avoid this relationship. There is no good excuse to miss the banquet.

Not only are we invited to the table, but Christ tells us to “compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” Through our own invitation, we must bring others to the table. God does not want us to force people to come to his table, but for us to convince people that the banquet is the greatest celebration on earth and no one should miss it. We must help our fellow man make the right decision to choose Christ and follow is path. A person is compelled to come to the table through your actions, your prayers and your words. They need to see that you are living a true Christian life.

The three excuses presented in the parable for not coming to banquet represent the three areas of our life that we are most likely to deny the invitation. The first is in our jobs, our school life, or the activities which occupy our time outside our house. The second is the material possession which we own. Do we spend more time finding clothes to wear then we spend with God? Do we miss church because we work? The last excuse calls us to place God before family. This means that we need to invite God into the family and to be a part of our family life. God invites us into the celebration not to punish us but so that we may share in his love and compassion.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, your banquet is plentiful and the table is large.

Help me find strength to find my way to your table.

Help me lead a true life to lead others to your table.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 14:12-14), we hear a story about the poor and those that are less fortunate. Jesus’ mission on earth was to show each of us the way to heaven. It’s simple, the way to heaven is through self-sacrifice. The disciples were more worried about inviting the wealthy and influential to have dinner with them to impress Jesus. They also had expectations in return. When they invited someone to dinner, they expected an invitation in return. But Jesus told his disciples that they need to “invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.” If we are truly generous, our gifts are given without any expectations in return. True gifts are a measure of self-sacrifice to the receiver. Therefore, true generosity comes from the heart and soul. As soon as we expect something in return, the gift is no longer from the soul but influenced by our own greed. God loved us so much that he sent his only son to save us. Jesus was a servant to humanity. He gave everything he had to save mankind. He even gave his life for us. Jesus expected nothing in return for his generosity. He died on the cross for our sins. He died on the cross knowing that many of us would not respect or honor him. He died on the cross knowing that we would deny him. He died on the cross knowing that we are a fallen society. We cannot out give God. Everything we have is a gift from God. And all God asks of us is to share these gifts unconditionally with our neighbors. Our reward for our generosity “will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven. You shower me with so many gifts and talents.

Free me to give freely to others and to share the gifts you have given me.

Purify my heart so I want not but give my love to others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12a) we hear the story of the beatitudes. A beatitude is a condition of perfect happiness and inner peace to be enjoyed by us in heaven. When Jesus says “Blessed are the…,” he is telling us that these people who appear to be suffering greatly are actually going to experience great joy and solace in heaven. Those people who have committed their lives to the betterment of others will have the most to gain in heaven. We are called to live a beatific life. Jesus is telling us that we can be poor, mournful, meek, righteous, merciful, pure, peaceful, and persecuted and be happy on earth. This may seem counter intuitive, but are we not happiest when we actually satisfy one of these traits? Do we not experience the ultimate feeling of inner joy when we realize we have pleased God by fulfilling one of the beatitudes? We have a natural desire to be happy. Society has tried to convince us that material riches are the key to happiness and that we should strive to be rich and accumulate wealth. God also wants us to accumulate wealth; it’s just not earthly material things. It is okay to have money and to have wealth and to have nice things, but when these “nice things” become the desire of heart then we have a problem. When we desire these things more than God, we are placing God second. The material things become the focus of our desires. To find God, one must live a beatific life. One must live the beatitudes.

A Simple Prayer

God in Heaven, I struggle with material goods.

Give the strength to share my earthly treasures with others so that I can lead a beatific life.

May my longings be for a life with you in heaven living in true happiness.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon