Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Where did this man get all this?”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

Have you ever tried to impress your own family or the neighbors you grew up with? In today's gospel, Jesus returns to the town where he grew up and the townspeople cannot believe that He is the Messiah. They simply could not accept him for who He was because they knew him when He was a young boy. How could he be the Messiah? He was the son of a carpenter. We all have difficulty believing that those we have known since they were young can grow up to do extraordinary things. Jesus' own town folks commented that this can't be the Messiah, he's the son of Mary, and he's only a carpenter's son. Our most severe critics are generally those we are closest. They are the ones who can't believe we can do extraordinary things.

We are simple people, how can we perform miracles? How can we preach to those that we know? Every day ordinary people do extraordinary things. Every day ordinary people step out of their ordinary lives and experience something miraculous. How many of your friends would believe that you can do something amazing and miraculous. Christ called ordinary fishermen to come follow him. He is also calling us, ordinary people, to come and follow him, to do his will and spread his word. Do you hear him? What is he calling you to do?

Have we become so familiar with Christ that we do not recognize him and his miracles that are all around us? Many times we do not recognize the blessing which have been bestowed upon us. Do you go to church and not recognize or sit in awestruck at the Eucharistic Mystery because it is familiar? Today's gospel challenges us see God's miracles as if it were the first time we met him. We should greet Jesus like we do a new born baby. Everyone wants to hold the new baby and embrace the miracle. We should do this every day with our faith and our commitment to God. God breeds new life in us through his miracles. If we do not believe, how can we recognize the miracles when we witness them?

A Simple Prayer

Father, give me the new life.

Help me renew my friendship with you.

Help me, an ordinary person, become extraordinary.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

Gospel Reading: John 11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Have you ever heard the saying, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” Today’s Gospel message talks about the joy and the hope of our own resurrection. Martha approached Jesus with great confidence. She had no doubt that Jesus could raise her brother from the dead. She did not say if you can - she says I know you can, but will you… We too need to approach Christ with the same level of confidence. Jesus tells us that he is “the resurrection and the life, … and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” This is our hope, that through our faith we will find eternal life. Martha recognized in Jesus this hope of eternal life. She says to Jesus, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Again, her statement is made without doubt. The grace of hope which was given to her allows her to realize the eternal salvation which awaits her. When Jesus asks her if she believes she replies, “Yes Lord; I have come to believe…” She realizes that Jesus is the Christ and the kingdom of heaven which is “coming into the world.” The miracle of Lazarus is a sign of Christ’s power to give life to people. Therefore, as Christians, we believe and hope that death is not the end, but simply a step into eternal life. The Roman missal says, “Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.” What are you willing to die for? Do you believe in the resurrection and the life of the world to come? Do you believe that Christ is the source of eternal life? It is through our hope that we are saved.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, you are the resurrection and the life.

Give me the strength to die to the worldly treasures so that I may know the eternal treasure of heaven.

I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:44-46

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

What are the treasures that you hold most dear to your heart? What treasures really matter in your life? In today's gospel reading Jesus tells us that "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…" If you were to find the Kingdom of Heaven today, would you be able to give up everything you own for it? This question is difficult to answer honestly because we all want the kingdom of heaven, but when we find it, it is difficult for us to give up our earthly treasures. If we look around, the kingdom of heaven is forth coming today. We do not need to wait. In the Lord’s Prayer, we say “Thy kingdom come” recognizing that the kingdom of heaven is before us. The real question is – “Are we a part of the construction crew?” When we do charitable work, it is easy to see the kingdom of heaven in the work that is being done. Also, when we have the opportunity to sacrifice our own time and talent, the joy we experience is truly the kingdom of heaven. If you stop and look, you will see the kingdom of heaven all around us. However, fully discovering and embracing the kingdom is a different story. To embrace the kingdom means to sacrifice and to suffer for God. Sometimes those sacrifices may mean giving up friends who lead you away from the kingdom. It may also mean making difficult decisions in which you must choose between church and a movie or a retreat over a football game. If you truly discover Christ, you will truly discover the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is here and now. It is being built around you. If you want to go to heaven, don't wait, it's here. When you help someone else, when you give freely of the talents you were provided you experience the joy heaven today.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me reveal the kingdom of heaven.

Help me lead others to your gates.

Help me give up the earthly treasures for the truly eternal treasure.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Today's gospel reading reflects on the deeds that we do. We are the seeds of the sower and our deeds and our actions are fruits of those seeds. What kind of seeds are you? Will the seeds produce weeds or will they produce bountiful fruit? Weeds choke the good plants robbing them of the nourishment that they need to survive. The weeds take away from the harvest. Will the seeds that are sown choke out the good plants or will the harvest be plentiful? In the end of our earthly life, we will all be judged by the quality of the harvest. "For a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest." (Galatians 6:7-9). We have many opportunities to sow good seeds every day. We can either chose to help others or to be selfish and only worry about our own needs. These seeds will not only benefit our own harvest, but more importantly, they will encourage others to sow better seeds. While it is much easier to sow the seeds of weeds because they do not take as much care to grow; good seeds take sacrifice and commitment. They take a sacrifice for others. You must water them, you must fertilize them and most importantly, you must provide good light.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you are my inspiration and my light.

You provide me with all that I need.

And while I may want, you know what my soul needs

to live in the Kingdom of God.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:31-35

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 fulfill 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.

Today’s gospel reading talks about growing the Kingdom of heaven. The Kingdom, as Christ describes it, starts as a very small seed planted within our heart. Through proper nourishment it grows into the “largest of plants.” The mustard bush becomes so big that the “birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” As our own faith grows within us, it can attract others to the Kingdom just as the mustard tree attracted the birds of the sky. They too want to eat the seed of life. By your example, you attract others to the faith. However, our faith cannot grow on its own. It must be fed to grow and fill us. Christ equates our faith to flour, without the yeast, it just remains a pile of flour. But once the flour is stirred with the yeast, it grows. It transforms the simple pile of flour into leaven bread. Once we mix Christ into our lives, our lives begin to transform like the flour with the yeast mixed in with it. In both parables, we must take action to grow the kingdom of heaven. We must either plant the seed or mix in the yeast. If we do not take action, the tree will not grow nor will the bread rise. We must be willing to take action so that we too can lead others to the seeds of life.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, You have filled me with the Holy Spirit.

May your Grace overflow in me.

May it nourish my body.

May it grow within me so that I can provide shelter and security for others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples: "Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

Today’s Gospel reading is a rather simple message with many intertwined lessons sewn together. Today’s gospel is the continuation of the parable of the sower from Wednesday. The sower is God spreading his word among the people. When he casts out his message, sometimes the message fall upon deaf ears; some people hear the message but do not care; while others grasp the message and grow in the word. For the first person, the seed of God’s word falls upon the path. The soil along the path is trampled and hardened not allowing the seed in to receive the nourishment of the soil. The one who does not get the message is a person whose heart is hardened. This person does not understand the word of God because he does not know his love and compassion. This person has not opened their heart to others to accept the light which surrounds him. The absence of love allows Satan to darken his soul. A seed does not grow in darkness. The seed is trampled and does not prosper.

The second seed of God is sown in the briar patch. This is a person who hears the word and knows the word, but allows earthly vices to control their lives and choke out the Word of God. The weeds are those things in our lives that prevent us from fully accepting and nourishing the Word of God. These are things that rob our seeds of needed nutrients to make them grown strong. While the seed sprouts; it is weak. It does not grow into maturity because the weeds in our life choke the plant.

The last seed sown is on fertile soil. This is the person with an open heart and a receptive mind. Jesus tells us, “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” This last verse tells us the importance of having fertile soil within our hearts. Not only will the word of God grow within us; but we will produce new fruits and new fruits produce new seeds. The seeds that we produce must also be sown. In the gospel reading, one seed had the ability to produced 100 new children of Christ, another 60 and yet another 30.

When we allow the Word of God to grow in the fertile soil of our soul, we are also commanded to spread that word with others. This message tells us that some of the people we meet will not hear us and some will hear us but will be consumed with earthly treasures. However, some of our seeds will again fall on fertile soil. It does no good to let the Word of God in and then conceal the word from others. St. Francis of Assisi tells us to preach the gospel daily and if necessary use words. The most fertile seeds that we sow are our actions. They are the things that come from our examples. Your example is the loudest message of all. Cherish the word and share it with others.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, my soul is for you.

I pray that I am receptive to your word

I pray that my soil is fertile and can grow the seeds you have sown

I pray that the seeds become fruitful and that which I produce is plenty.

I pray that the seeds that are sown from my fruit are sown on fertile ground.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I have seen the Lord.”

Gospel Reading: John 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and then reported what he had told her.

In today’s Gospel reading, Mary Magdalene is seeking out Jesus at his tomb. It says that she was weeping outside the tomb and when she looked inside the tomb she saw two. The angles wanted to know why she was weeping. She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him.” Through her desire, Jesus appeared before her, but she did not recognize him. How many times are we seeking Jesus but do not see him standing there with us? Christ never abandons us, we abandon him. To find the kingdom of heaven, we are called to constantly seek out Christ in our lives. Mary Magdalene was looking for Jesus and He was right there in front of her. Finally, when Jesus calls her name, she recognizes him. Being filled with the joy of the encounter with Christ, she goes and tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” It is not enough for us to know about the Lord, but we must encounter Christ in our lives. You must experience Him when He calls your name. You must be willing to go to others and say, “I have seen the Lord.” An encounter with Christ is the very foundation of the Christian faith. To be truly Christian is to have experienced Christ first hand. It is through your faith that you can see the power of the resurrection and eternal life. It is through the eyes of your faith that you encounter the Kingdom of God here on earth. Celebrate your encounter with Christ and shout out, “Alleluia, Alleluia, I have seen the Lord!” A true encounter with Christ is life altering. It is through the grace of God that you encounter Christ in your life. We have the choice to accept that grace or to deny it. Your eyes will be opened and you will be given the light if you accept his grace.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, Father in heaven.

You are the risen Christ.

It is through you that my sins are forgiven.

It is through you that I find eternal life.

Give me the eyes of faith to see you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“He who has ears, let him hear.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:1-9

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow and as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."

Today’s Gospel reading has a very simple message, “He who has ears, let him hear.” We must be attentive to the Word of God. We must be open to hear what Christ has to say through his teachings and his parables. When we are born, God places a very special seed within each of us. We are given the basic desire and hope for God’s love. Therefore, the question is, “What do you do with that seed.” Is that seed nourished and fertilized and allowed to grow. Are you open and receptive to the word of God? For some, that seed is quickly consumed by the material treasures of this world for ever to be lost to the kingdom of God. These people completely shut out the Word of God and allow other things to control their lives. These seeds bear no fruit at all. For others, the seed has no foundation. You are introduced to the Gospel, but the Gospels do not take hold in our lives. We may hear the message, but it only momentarily impacts our lives. Then there are those who have set their roots in the message of Christ and make themselves fruitful for the kingdom of God. These people listen to the Word of God and make it a fundamental part of their lives. Yet even some of these people, still cannot let go of the things that bind them to this world. They let the weeds and thorns of this world distract them and prevent them from becoming fully enveloped by God. Where is your seed sown? Do you need to clear out some weeds in your life. Take some time to reflect on the message. It may be time to replant your seed in good soil and nurture it so it can become a productive seed producing many fruits for our Father in heaven.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the Master Gardener.

May my seed be planted in your soil.

May it grow vigorously and be fruitful.

Help me clear the weed and thorns from my life.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Mewditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you." But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."

If you were to take a pole to find out who is the most important person, the majority of people would respond their mom. Mom is the foundation of caring and compassion. But in today’s gospel reading, it appears that Jesus is blowing off his own mother and family. When he is told that his mother and family were there to speak with him, Jesus responded, "Here are my mother and my brothers,” indicating those that had gathered to hear the Word of the Lord were his family. Jesus was not ignoring his mother, but instead he was teaching his disciples the significance of a relationship with God. Our relationship with God is the most significant relationship we can seek and that all who seek the Lord are our fellow brothers and sisters. When I begin my letters with “My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ” I am acknowledging the fact that we are all part of a family of Christ. I consider that we all form a unique community centered on the teachings of Jesus and the Gospels. Christianity is centered on this relationship with God; a relationship that binds us together like family. When we think of a family relationship, we think of the trust, the compassion, the loyalty and the love that our fellow family members put forth for the family unit. When we establish a relationship with others, we are forming a community. If we form this community out of love, we are forming this community with God. Whoever does the will of God is a member of this family. God is our Father. Like a Good Father, he seeks us out and tries to keep us safe. He provides for all our needs, both earthly and spiritual. We must love him and our fellow brothers and sisters.

A Simple Prayer

Most Heavenly Father, You are the leader of my Family.

You provide for us and keep us safe.

Allow me to glorify your family,

To show love and compassion as you have shown me.

Allow me to grow within the family and to become a worthy member.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here."

Are we no different a society then was present at the time of Jesus. I think that Christ would still call us an “evil and adulterous generation.” What was the sign of Jonah? Society still wants proof or scientific evidence of the existence of God? People still try today to prove that the historical Jesus existed through ancient writing and artifacts. Why is it that we still demand proof that Jesus was around. Instead, we should be focused on living the life of Jesus and not trying to validate his existence. It is simply a matter of faith. In today’s gospel message, the Pharisees and the scribes demand to see a sign from Jesus so they can validate that he is the messenger from God.

So why does Jesus call the Pharisees adulterous? He calls them adulterous because of their spiritual infidelity. Not only did they question God, but they demanded God give them a sign. Jesus tells them that he is the sign and they should need no other. However, the Pharisees and the scribes rejected Jesus as the sign. They could not accept him as the Son of God because they were looking for someone who was a military leader who would defeat the Romans. Jesus did not fit the mold of the person they were looking. Unfortunately, healing people, freeing them from their internal demons and bringing people back from the dead was not enough to convince the Pharisees. To believe in God and recognize the signs which He so clearly provides should be enough for us yet at times we still demand more. We say to him, “If only …, then I would believe.” When do the “if only’s” and the “I believe” begin. Can we not open our eyes and see God in the little flowers that bloom in the fields?

God performs miracles right before our very eyes so we can witness his greatness. What other signs do we need? Instead, we allow the darkness of evil in the world to blind our vision. When we witness a miracle, we should fall to our knees and praise the blessing which he has bestowed upon us; that he has provided a sign so we may believe. Jesus told the Jews that “Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” This would be the ultimate sign proving that he is truly the Son of God, the Messiah. It is ok to have doubts, but do not let your doubts become demands of God. We should seek the answer and not allow the doubts to grow into demands of our God. We just need to open our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom and he will show us his glory. Miracles occur every day. If we wish to have the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in us, we must humble ourselves to the Lord.

A Simple Prayer:

Lord Jesus, fill my soul with the Holy Spirit so that my faith may grow.

Give me the strength to shed my doubts so that I can truly see you as the Son of God.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath." He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

We are commanded to keep holy the Sabbath day. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples are chastised by the Pharisees for not keeping the Sabbath. According to Jewish Law, the Sabbath was set aside as a time of rest and the Jews were not to do any work or labor. Today, conservative Jews take this day very seriously. They go as far as to even limit the number of steps one takes, everything they eat on this day is prepared the day before and they go to great lengths not to expend any labor. The elevators are set to stop on every floor so they do not even have to hit a button. While this may seem extreme, they believe this is what God commanded them to do. However, Jesus says that they are taking this commandment beyond what God had intended. This day was set aside to honor the greatness of God’s creation. In the gospel story, the disciples were hungry and therefore were harvesting and eating corn. This action was forbidden on this day. Jesus explains that these actions are not in violation of the Sabbath and that when men are hungry, it is okay for them to eat. Jesus says that God “desires mercy, not sacrifice.” He is telling the Jews while the ritual of the Sabbath is important, compassion for man’s basic human needs are more important. Jesus was trying to tell the Jews that they were missing the truly important meaning of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is truly about honoring the greatness of God’s creation. If we allow God’s creation to suffer on this day, then are we really honoring this day. If God is Love, them would God want his servants to starve when food was sitting right in front of them. If we see a person who is hungry, should we not feed them. Allowing him to starve would be dishonoring this day. Feeding our fellow man shares the love and compassion that God shared with us through his Son.

But have we gone too far in the opposite direction. Modern Christians have lost the meaning of honoring the Sabbath. Stores are now open on Sundays. Most of us work on Sundays or are involved in activities that take us away from the greatness of this day. Many Catholic Christians do not even go to Mass anymore or Mass is second to all the other activities in our lives. We are so busy that we forget the importance of this day. We are still called to keep holy the Sabbath day. This is still one of the commandments. Dishonoring this commandment is a sin. This means that we are called to rest and to reflect on this day. We are to go to church, to pray and give thanks for all the things that God has given us. Many of us are so busy that this day goes on like any other day. We should take the time on this day to cherish what God has given us. We need to take time to smell the roses. We should celebrate the graces that God has bestowed upon us. We should spend time with our family and most importantly, we should spend time with Christ thanking him for the sacrifice he made to save our souls.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, thank you for all of creation.

Thank you for the mountains and thank you for the seas and the oceans.

Thank you for all the living creatures on this earth.

Give me the wisdom to know the Sabbath and to honor it.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Today’s Gospel reading is such a comforting message when we consider the messages from earlier this week. Jesus tells us to take up the yoke of the Lord “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” To help ease the load on the oxen, each ox had its own tailor made yoke. One specially made to fit their build. The craftsmen took the time to make sure it fit perfectly so as not to burden the ox. Jesus tells us that he will help us with our load if we will take up his yoke. He has a tailor made yoke just for us designed to free us from the heavy burden of life. Yokes are made for two. This makes room for both you and Christ. If we are willing, Christ joins in to help us with our life which sets us free from the heavy burden of sin. Any other load is crushing and weighs us down. It is through Christ that we find our worries removed.

We are all called to prepare for the coming of Christ and to open the doors to our soul to let in Christ. He comes to us through the Sacraments to lighten our load and to remove the burdens of sin which we place upon ourselves. We are nourished through the Eucharist which gives us the energy we need to pull the cart. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, our sins are not only forgiven, but removed from our cart. It is through the love of Christ that he relieves us from our burden. But we too have the option to lighten the load of others. We are called to forgive those who trespass against us. When we ask for forgiveness we are also called to give forgiveness. This forgiveness removes the burden which others have placed upon themselves. What a great place this world would be if we all forgave each other for all the sins that are committed. Take up the yoke of Christ and he will give you rest.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, my yoke is heavy and my load is burdensome.

Help me free myself from the burdens which hold me back

And give me strength to help free the burden placed on others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“You have revealed them to the childlike.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

Why would God hide things from adults and reveal them to the babes? Think of the time when you were very young, maybe even before you were in school. You believed in God and Jesus and all His miracles without question. You believed the stories and were amazed at the wonder and awe expressed by Jesus in his works on earth. I can remember sitting there listening to my religion teacher teaching us about Jesus and never once did I doubt the things that I was told. A child is simple and tends to think in a simple way. This simplicity allows Jesus to be revealed to a child in his full glory. A child is naturally humble with no consuming pride which prevents them from seeing God as our creator, Lord and master. The questions and the comments that young children ask are from their innocence and reveal to them the greatness of the Father in Heaven. Yet as we grow in world knowledge and understanding, we somehow let this new found intelligence cloud our vision of God. We begin to rationalize his existence and justify his being. We try to use science to confirm his miracles instead of just simply accepting Jesus as who he is. We want the physical evidence to explain the unknown.

We are all called to have a childlike belief in the Father and the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only does a babe express unconditional belief in our Father in heaven, they also express unconditional love. The clearest example of this is a child’s loves for their parents. This love is unbounded and without limitations or conditions. Jesus Christ expressed this same unconditional love when he walked on the earth saving us from our sins and lastly when he died on the cross to defeat evil. Jesus expressed love perfected and without blemish. Jesus tries to reveal himself to us through his miracles and his teachings. We must become childlike in our belief to fully grasp the unconditional love that was expressed by Christ for us. We must humble ourselves. It does no good to brag about our intelligence if this intelligence keeps the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit from being fully revealed to us.

A Simple Prayer

Lord I ask for childlike belief and understanding so that I can see you in your true glory.

May this childlike expression of love fill me with a deeper relationship with you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Do we need to add our own town to this list? What would Jesus say to us if He were to visit our community or even our church. Today’s message is again a warning to his disciples. Jesus is just a little upset with the people from these two towns for he has done great miracles in these towns and the people have not repented to the Lord. Chorazin and Bethsaida were two small communities probably represented by a single Jewish synagogue. He compares them to the towns of Sodom, Tyre and Sidon. These towns were known for loose living, prostitution, gambling, drunkenness. We all know what happened to Sodom and how they were punished for their loose living and sinful ways. Jesus tells the people from these two towns “it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.” This is probably the harshest warning that Jesus gives in the Gospel of Matthew.

The people have witnessed the great miracles preformed by Christ. They have seen Jesus cure people of ailments, being deaf or blind, and even people possessed by the devil. They have heard His teachings first hand and yet they are indifferent to him. Would Jesus deliver the same message to us today? What would he think about our own home? Is Jesus Christ alive in your house? When people visit your house, can they tell that you are a disciple of Christ. When we look at our community, can we see the miracles of God that occur all around them? We are called to proclaim the word of God and we are called to repent. When Jesus said that these towns did not repent, he implies that they did not change their ways. We need to change our ways to create change within our community. We need to convince others to change their ways so that they can realize the salvation of the Word of God. It is through our actions and our words that our family and our community can see the change in us. Jesus’ anger in today’s gospel is really sadness for us. He is sad because we have not seen the light of his salvation. If we do not change then we will not be with him in heaven. Christ calls each of us walk with him; to carry our cross and to repent for our sins. We are all sinners and we must all repent, we must all change. None of us are perfect.

A Simple Prayer

Most Glorious God in Heaven

Open my heart and my mind so that you can reign in on me.

Shower me with your grace so that I can change.

May my change be seen by others as new light leading them to Christ.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household. "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward." When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

Generally when we think of the gospel message from Jesus, we think of love and joy and hope. Jesus’ words usually instill compassion for his fellow man. However, today’s gospel message appears to be rather harsh and condemning. Jesus tells us: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” Why would Jesus want us to take up a sword against our parents or to be in opposition to our families? This does not sound like a person who came in peace to love and serve the world, but one who wants to start a war. Not only was Jesus sent to love the world, he was also sent to defeat the powers of evil and free us from darkness. Jesus is trying to tell us that our true salvation comes from obedience to Him and that we must follow Him no matter what the cost. We must open our hearts to hear the Word of the Lord and not let others lead us astray, not even our own families. The sword that we must take up is not a sword of steel, but the Holy Scriptures. We must be willing to take up our cross and follow him no matter what happens to us.

Today’s Gospel message is not telling us to be disobedient to our parents or to be in opposition to the fourth commandment, but to set the first commandment above all. In this great battle, Satan is trying to defeat Christ and lead us into darkness. Satan will use any means available to lead us astray. Satan wants to establish conflict that separates us from Christ. The actions you take and the decisions you make establish which trail you are on. You cannot be on two trails at the same time. Either you are following Christ or you are not. This boils down to the classic battle between good and evil. Our decisions, our actions and our words will determine whether we are walking toward the light or toward darkness. The message is clear and we must be willing to risk our present life to have eternal salvation. This is like gossiping about someone and justifying it by saying “but it’s the truth.” If we are gossiping, we are looking for the darkness in someone. Instead, we are called to find the good in everyone.

The gospel message goes on to have a very positive message: “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” Christ asks us to find good in the world. We must seek good and not evil; we must look for the good in everyone. We must try to find the good in the least of our brothers. Not only will this make you a better person, it will bring you closer to Christ. Christ came to help us find the way, the truth, and the life. By seeking the righteousness and goodness in people, we are showing them the truth and the way. The true love expressed by God is for everyone and we must express that same love. We are not only asked to love our families and our best friends, but those who are difficult to love. If we give to others, Christ tells us that we will be rewarded in heaven. We are not called to serve ourselves but to serve God, for he who serves God will celebrate with our Father in Heaven.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, lead me to you.

May I be obedient to you;

May my actions and words be pleasing;

Help me to find the goodness in others

So I can receive the rewards that you promised.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Hello again from Work Camp. It is absolutely wonderful how the Holy Spirit is moving in so many of the youth of the church. Today's Gospel message speaks to the activities which they have performed which are bringing about the Kingdom of heaven.

"Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: "As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells us to preach because "the kingdom of heaven is at hand". So what is the kingdom of heaven? The kingdom of heaven is the reign of God on earth through us. Each and every one of us is a creator of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is every man and woman who has committed their life to Christ. Every day we pray, every day we give without repayment and every day we fast for our Lord Jesus Christ, we help reveal a little more of the kingdom of heaven on earth. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that " Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." God has given us so much. He gives us the bounty we receive each day. He gives us nourishment for our minds and our souls. He gave us His son who died for our sins. Now we are called to give back without any expectation of return. We are called to live and preach the gospel every day without any expectation of reward. In fact, we might even be ridiculed for preaching the word. The Gospel may bring sorrow, but in the end you will experience the joy of eternal life with God. Our first call is to serve God in heaven. If we expect material gain for our efforts, how can we bond with God? We have been chosen to bear witness to the Gospels. Live them daily.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, God of heaven on Earth,

Nourish me and give me strength to preach your Gospel.

Let me want not for your glory is all I seek.

Let me be a living testament to your Word.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

RE: Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Well I'm at Catholic Heart Work Camp with a large group of youth from St. Ignatius. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get messages out from the place we were staying. Anyway, I'll do what I can do. This is a wonderful place to meditate on teh Gospels. Many new insights and beautiful reflections - especially from the youth. It is a mazing to see how they actually live the Gospel in their daily lives.

In today's Gospel Message, we hear the words, "Take heart, your faith has made you well"

Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping." And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus performs two different miracles to help two different people. It was the uncompromising faith of the two that yielded Christ to answer their prayers. An earthly ruler of a local synagogue comes to Jesus and kneels before him. He tells Jesus that his daughter has died and says, "come, lay your hand on her, and she will live." Touched by his faith, he gets up to help the ruler. But before he could come to the aide of the father, a woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years reaches out to touch Jesus' garment to receive his healing powers. Jesus turned to this woman and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." Then Jesus went to the ruler's house and was able to bring his daughter back to life. In both cases, it was the unconditional faith of the individuals that Jesus relied upon to help these individuals.

Just imagine, you're a powerful Jewish ruler and you have to go to Jesus to ask for his help. Not only do the Jews dislike Jesus, they think he is a heretic and one who blasphemies the church. Not only did he go and ask Jesus, but he prostrated himself before Jesus in recognition of the Messiah, our Lord and savior. He does this knowing that his followers and friends were laughing at him. He did this knowing that his followers would not respect him anymore. Likewise, the woman that was hemorrhaging was thinking if she could just touch his garments that would be enough to cure her. So she reached out for him and Jesus, realizing her faith cures her of her aliment. Who do you reach out to help you when you need help. Are you willing to lay it all on the line for Christ.

Belief was not enough. Both people believed in Jesus, but Jesus says, "Take heart, your faith will make you well." We too must have faith. We must not only believe in God, but we must have faith in his powers. Jesus opened his arms for these people and expressed the deepest form of love. He showed them a love that yielded hope and compassion, at the same time. We too can take our problems and troubles to God. We must be sincere and have faith in what he does. We must be willing to prostrate ourselves before him, even when our friends may make fun of us and laugh at us. It is your faith that will set you free. Through Jesus' actions, we see the infinite love God extends to all of us. He gave this love freely to each person who needed it. This love was able to cure the sick and raise the dead; it was able to expel demons and heal sinners. On this mission trip, the youth must realize, with all the power and money in the world, there is still pain and suffering. All the power and money in teh world can not change the reality in which we live. Only our own desire to reach out in faith will truly change the world. God Bless Catholic Heart Work Camp.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, your love is all I need.

It heals my pains and makes me well.

Help me to give that same love to others so that I too can be healing.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon