Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of  Jerusalem.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of  Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.  The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

 

Today’s Gospel reading is about hope and prayer.  We hear the story of a widow who dedicated her life to prayer and communion with God.  The Gospel reading says she worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  She completely dedicated her life to the hope and glory of God our Father.  In her case, this hope became the desire for the kingdom of heaven to come forth.  When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Anna recognized that her hope and desire had been answered.  She came forth and witnessed that the Christ child was the hope and salvation that Jerusalem was waiting for.

 

We can experience the same hope and joy that Anna experienced by dedicating our lives to Christ.  The hope which God placed in our heart from our birth is the hope for eternal life and happiness.  Our hope grows in our prayers and our worship.  It grows as we encounter Christ in the sacraments and most importantly, it grows when we encounter Christ in the Eucharist.  Anna is a model of dedication to God.  She prayed and fasted daily for God.  We should also strive to be like Anna by daily committing to encounter Christ through our own fasting and prayer. Fasting should include eliminating those things from our lives which separate us from Christ or those things that diminish our prayer life.  We must grow in hope and faith.  To do so, we must be willing to place our complete trust in God.  We must rely on his strength and not our own.  We must submit our lives to the Holy Spirit who will strengthen us to do His will.  Start by asking yourself a very simple question – Does my heart truly hope for God to grow within me?  How you answer this question will determine your commitment to God in your life.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I am weak and you are strong.

May my hope and faith grow for you.

I commit my life to you to have as you will.

Help me grow in hope and faith.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“He saw and believed.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 20:1a,2-8

 

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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 do not know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

 

Some of you are probably thinking, “Are we already in the season of Easter?”  Two days ago we celebrated the birth of Christ and in today’s Gospel we celebrate his resurrection.  But yet we are still in the season of Christmas.  So what is the link between the two events?  that It has been said that the wood of the cross is the wood of the manger.  Both are significant events which define our salvation and redemption.  In today’s gospel, the message is about seeing and believing.  Those who came to see the birth of Christ, paid homage and believed.  John arrives at the tomb and when he goes in, he sees and believes.  So what did John see when he entered the tomb that made him believe?  Mary of Magdala tells us that “they have taken the Lord from the tomb” so we know the tomb is empty.  Peter and John raced to the tomb to verify the news.  John at first does not enter the tomb, but when he finally develops the courage he enters the tomb and “he saw and believed.”  He saw the burial wrapping lying on bed with the cloth that covered his face folded and lying next to the wrapping.  What is in the tomb that could have made him believe?  More importantly, it was what was not in the tomb that finally made John believe.  Jesus had defeated death in his resurrection.  Jesus’ resurrection is the single event that confirms Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  It is the resurrection, the birth from death, that forms our faith in Christ.  Without the resurrection, Jesus is just another great profit.  With the resurrection, he confirms our salvation from our sins.  Through his resurrection we are given new life.  Two days ago we celebrated his birth and today we celebrate our birth from death.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are the life which defeats death.

You are the resurrection from death into life.

It is only through you that we are born into the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

 

Gospel Reading Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the  pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

 

Today’s Gospel reading seems to be just a little bit out of place as we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Martyr of the Church.. We just celebrated the glorious birth of Christ and were told of the great joy and hope which was given to the world by God. Yet, in today’s reading we hear that there will be consequences if we follow Christ. We hear if we follow Christ, others will hate us and others will make fun of us. It even says that some of us will be put to death if we follow Christ. This does not sound like the good news we have been hearing for the past couple of days. However, Christ became flesh to save us from our sins and free us from death. He came to give us new life in the Kingdom of God. We learn that the way to heaven is through the cross. If we want to live in the glory of God, then we must be willing to take up the cross no matter what the consequences. Jesus tells us, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” We should not fear being committed to God; we should not be afraid to tell our friends that we are Christian Catholics; and we should not be afraid to stand up for the teachings of Christ because “whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

 

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostle, it says, “But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” Following Christ is like running a marathon. The training and practice is grueling and our body continually tells us to quit, but persistence wins. We win the marathon not by crossing the line first but simply by crossing the line. In today’s Gospel reading, Christ is telling us that we may even be hated by our brothers and sisters, but if you are persistent, in the end you will be given the Kingdom of God. When you look up to heaven, what is it that you see?  Do you see the glory of God raining down or do cower and hide from people when you are challenged for your faith.  Stand tall, be proud to be a Christian for it is the through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can stand up for our faith a be a witness for God.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, I am scared to carry my cross.

Strengthen my will so I can withstand the punishment

For it is through you that I find the Kingdom of God.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.  Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.  Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.  Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,  Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”  Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”  And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.  But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.  But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.  He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.  After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

 

In today’s Gospel, we hear the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist.  The Angel Gabriel appears before Zechariah to tell him that his wife, late in years, will finally bear a child.  In the time of Jesus, it was thought that God did not have favor on you if you did not have offspring.  Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced in age beyond the child bearing age, yet God graced them with a child.  Zechariah apparently wanted a child to carry on the family name. Gabriel says to Zechariah, “Do not be afraid because your prayer has been heard.” How did Zechariah respond to Gabriel?  He responded with doubt and disbelief.  Gabriel tells Zechariah that his son will be great, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit and he will make them very happy and yet Zechariah doubts the message of God. 

 

Today’s Gospel reading has two messages focused on hearing the Word of God and responding to the Word of God.  When God calls us forth, how do we respond.  Through our baptism, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and called to grow in faith.  When our parents or guardians approach the baptismal fount, they are asked what they seek.  Their response is faith for their child.  When Gabriel appeared before Zechariah, Zechariah lacked the faith he needed to believe.  We too are called to grow in faith and serve God unconditionally.  If we ignore the message, we are ignoring the calling of God.  Advent is a time for us to renew our hope in the new covenant of Christ.  In the annunciation, Gabriel told Zechariah that his son would prepare the way of the Lord and that he would turn many people to God.  In our Baptism, we are commanded to grow in faith and become a loyal servant of God.  God is calling you to go out and bring people to the table of life.  He wants us to share in the One Body of Christ which brings us everlasting life.  This advent, renew you’re faith in God’s calling so you can speak the Word of God.  Do not be afraid – it is God calling.  It is time to answer the call.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Father, fill my heart with hope that I may renew my faith in God.

You have given me the gift of the Holy Spirit, may I rekindle the fire that is within me.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“God is with us.”

 

Gospel Reading Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.  Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.  Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,  “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.  For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel ,which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.  He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the commitment of Joseph to the Angel of God. Joseph answers the call to take care of Mary even though she is with child.  Therefore, today’s Gospel is all about God calling us to do special things. Joseph just found out that Mary is pregnant and being a just man and not wanting to shame Mary, he resolves to divorce her quietly. But an angel appeared to Joseph and tells him not to be afraid for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child was conceived.  When he woke up he did as he was commanded by the angel. This story has two great messages. The first message is the willingness of Joseph to obey the will of God. His fiancé is pregnant and they are not married. How embarrassing that would be for his future wife to be pregnant and they are not married. Yet Joseph listened and obeyed the angel of God. The second message, which is more subtle in this Gospel reading, is the faith and trust of Mary. Mary also has to trust in God and have faith that he will take care of her and provide for her. In the time of Christ, Mary would likely have been stoned or cast out of the community. She would have been put to the street to live with the vagrants and undesirables.  This was a huge commitment by both. Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was able to go to Joseph and trust that he would be there to take care of her.  Joseph was able to keep Mary even though he might be shamed and embarrassed.

 

We too are called to be obedient to the will of God no matter what he asks us to do, no matter how embarrassing, and no matter how uncertain the outcome. The Holy Spirit comes down upon us and gives us many gifts wrapped in strange packaging. We are called to use those gifts to spread the word of God, to make way for the Kingdom of God. We are also called to have great trust and faith in God. We need to trust that he knows what he is doing. In our daily lives, it is so easy to get caught up in the materialistic aspects of “All I want is…” when I should be saying yes to the angel of God when he calls. We should be willing to take the time to reflect on the gifts which God has given us and give him thanks and praise for these gifts are given to us freely without any expectations of return. We should reflect on our talents which were given to us by God. We should decide whether we are using our gifts how God intended us to us them. We must be willing to sacrifice the material gifts that we receive for the spiritual gifts which are wrapped up in the paper of the Holy Spirit. We should celebrate the family that we have and blessing that we were given. We should celebrate the gift of Christ in our lives. Once we accept these gifts from God, we can truly appreciate the other material gifts which we receive. 

 

This Advent season, who do you carry inside you.  It is not long before we will celebrate our greatest gift’s birth.  Take this time to renew your commitment to the gifts and graces which have been provided to you by our Father in heaven.  Let us not focus on our weaknesses or the things that might embarrass us, but focus on the glory of the new life which has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Say yes to our Father as we complete the final days of Advent.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

God, you give me more graces than I deserve.

Give me the strength to use those gifts to your satisfaction.

May I have the obedience of Joseph and the faith of Mary to use the gifts which you have given me.

Your son was the greatest gift of all for he came to forgive us our sins;

May I also forgive those who sinned against me.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“By what authority are you doing these things?”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-27

When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you this authority?”  Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.  Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?”  They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?  But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.”  So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”  He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

 

Why are the high priests and elders so upset with Jesus? For one, they do not like his teachings. They want nothing better than to trap Jesus and prove he is wrong. They want to condemn him for his beliefs. But Jesus turns the argument around and asks them a question. “Where was John’s baptism from?” In doing so, he challenges them to speak the truth about their own questioning. Are they truly brave enough to stand up to the challenge. We too can be challenged about our faith and how we answer the question tells God about the foundation of our faith. Do you avoid the answer for fear you will be persecuted or do craft an answer that avoids conflict? The elders would not answer the question because it would either anger the crowds or validate Christ as the Messiah. They knew the true answer but did not have the strength to answer the question.

 

God is often associated with conflict. How often do we see Christians arguing with non Christians, Protestants arguing with Catholics, or Catholics arguing amongst themselves. Throughout history, major battles were fought over religion and our faith can lead to internal conflict when we have to decide between God’s will and our own. As we struggle with our faith, we must make decisions which sometimes are not easy. When you must choose between God and yourself, who wins out? The elders did not like Jesus because he was not aligned with their own beliefs. The chief priests and elders had twisted the teachings of the Old Testament to a point where it glorified them and not God. We too can find ourselves in conflict with our beliefs trying to justify our own actions or sins. If we do not like a teaching of the church, often we try to rationalize our actions. The rationalization of sins is one of the greatest distractions along the road to the kingdom of heaven. We must ask ourselves, is this my will or God’s. When I say I do not believe in the Church’s teaching on (you fill in the blank), one must ask the simple question, “Is this because it conflicts with my will?” This is not an easy question to answer and requires a deep evaluation of one’s own soul and beliefs. Do you disagree because it causes you to concede to God?  The path to the gate to the kingdom of heaven is narrow and one can easily stray from the path for the glory of the world.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are the one true Messiah.

Help me to know your way and your will

So that I can see the truth which leads to the gates of Heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“To what shall I compare this generation?”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:16-19

 

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation?  It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’  But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

 

When you listen to music, does it not stir your heart?  Do you not feel the beat or tap your foot?  In today’s gospel reading, we hear that the young children play out their music, yet this did not stir their hearts.  The people have become so indifferent to the message the music no longer stirs their hearts. The people found excuses not to hear the calling of John the Baptist calling him a disciple of Satan and refused to follow Christ because He mingled with sinners.  This message is as true today as it was at the time Jesus. 

 

Today’s generation has fallen asleep.  Do we not find society trying to remove religion and Jesus from absolutely everything.  It is becoming more and more difficult to celebrate your Christianity. We no longer celebrate Advent and jump right into Christmas.  However, Christmas is not about Christ, but about commercialism and Black Friday.  We have lost the true meaning of Christ and Advent.  This is supposed to be a time of great anticipation for the coming of Christ yet we make it more about receiving gifts. 

 

People no longer find the joy and happiness in the encounter with Christ.  Mass and Church events are secondary to other “obligations” in our life.  We obligate ourselves to worldly items forgetting about the celebration of God.  During Advent, we are called in a time of anticipation.  A time when we should be shaken and breakout into joyful dance knowing that Christ is on his way.  A time to come alive in dance and to sing out in joy “O Come, Let Us Adore Him”.  We are called to acknowledge Christ our savior for He is coming to greet us.  When the church plays its flute, we should dance in the streets and when the church plays a dirge, we should morn with sadness.  During this time of Advent, rekindle the spirit of God in your life.  At Mass, shout out with joy for the Lord – O Come, O Come Emmanuel – O Come Let Us Adore Him.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Christ the King – Shake me until I awaken.

May I dance to your words and proclaim you are here.

O Come, Let Us Adore Him.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

Today we hear the story of the annunciation again, the second time in only a couple of weeks. We are called to focus on the event and the significance of the event.  This is the story of Mary’s “yes”.  So what did she actually say yes to?  The Angel Gabriele tells Mary that she “will” conceive God, not do you want to conceive God.  Mary’s yes was to cooperate fully with the will of God no matter what.  One must also reflect on the significance of this event.  Mary’s womb is now filled with that which is bigger than the Universe.  She contains within her, God himself.  The blood of God is now flowing through her immaculate heart.  Her body is uniquely connected to that of the almighty.  Her Immaculate Heart is filled with the life of God.  Now she has become the body which nourishes God.  It is she who now is the life support system for Jesus.  It is her body that nourishes his body.  It is her heart that comforts and soothes Jesus while he is in the womb.  Mary is the Arc of Covenant made of the most precious material of the purest nature.  It is now she that radiates the energy from which salvation will flow into this world.  Today is a day we should sit back and truly ponder Mary, the window which allows us to see the face of God. 

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God in Heaven, you call me by name to be your disciple.

Help me find strength to say yes to your will.

 

Your Servant 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 to the crowds: “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.”

 

During this time of joyful anticipation for the coming of the Lord, we are called to rid ourselves of those things that prevent us from enjoying our encounter with Christ.  Today’s Gospel message is such a comforting message when we consider the message from earlier this week. Jesus tells us to take up the yoke of the Lord “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” He wants us to know that when we truly encounter Christ in our lives, we are freed from the burdens in our life which weight us down.  To help ease the load on the oxen, each ox had its own tailor made yoke. Jesus tells us that He will help us with our load if we will take up his yoke, the yoke He has specially made for you. He has a tailor made yoke designed to free us from the heavy burdens of life and the crushing weight of sin. It is important to realize that the yokes are made for two; this makes room for both you and Christ. Christ is there to pull the load with us if we will just turn over our lives to him.  When we try to handle our struggles on our own, it is difficult and tiring on our soul.  But if we give into the Lord, the burden of sin is lifted and we are set free.  Any other load is crushing and weighs us down. It is through Christ that we find true happiness and joy.

 

We are all called to prepare for the coming of Christ. We open the doors to our soul to let Christ in. He is coming to lighten our load and to remove the burdens of sin which we place upon ourselves. Through Christ, our sins are not only forgiven, but removed from our cart. Through reconciliation, we ask God to lift the sins from our back. It is through the love of Christ that he relieves us from our burden. 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 they 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:

 

“It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:12-14

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion?  If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

 

Some of you are probably asking the question, “Why would the shepherd leave the 99 for the one; that just doesn’t make sense.”  However, to our Heavenly Father, all of us are worth saving, even the most fallen individual.  Today’s message is one of good news and hope.  No matter how lost we become, God is always there to help us find our way back to his fold.  God wants us all in the Kingdom of heaven and does not want us separated from him.  St Faustina says that the one who wanders the farthest is the one who needs the most love from our Father.  Today’s message is truly good news because Jesus tells us that everyone can be part of the flock.  Like a shepherd, God is saddened and worried when one of his sheep is lost.  A sheep is a very social animal and needs the protection of the shepherd.  If it gets separated from the flock, it panics and becomes disoriented.  It will not eat and becomes susceptible to wolves and other wild animals that prey upon them.  Our Father in Heaven knows that he needs to be continually present to us so we can avoid bad things.  And when he finds his lost sheep, “he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.”  If we fall, God does not get mad at us, but instead he worries about us and continually looks for us trying to get us back to the flock.  He knows that when we are separated from him that we are alone and disoriented so he reaches out to us with arms wide open.  God does not want us separated from him.  He wants us with him in his loving arms.  God seeks us continuously and forever wants us in his flock  What does he do when we return?  He rejoices and celebrates like the father did when the prodigal son returned home.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are my shepherd.

Guide me when I am lost and gone astray

Guide me when I cannot find my way back

I desire to be with you at all times.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Today is the feast day for the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.  She is the Patron Saint of the United States.

 

“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

Today we hear the story of the annunciation again, the second time in only a couple of weeks. We are called to focus on the event and the significance of the event.  This is the story of Mary’s “yes”.  So what did she actually say yes to?  The Angel Gabriele tells Mary the she “will” conceive God, not do you want to conceive God.  Mary’s yes was to cooperate fully with the will of God.  When we are called to imitate Mary, we are called to imitate her yes that she gave to God.  This is a yes to fully  cooperate in the will of God not matter what it is?  Her yes was an unconditional yes.  A yes which caused much heart ache while at the same time great joy.  Life is not easy, but when we say yes to God, we can experience great joy.  the One must also reflect on the significance of this event.  In her yes, Mary’s womb was filled with that which is bigger than the Universe.  She contained within her, God himself.  The blood of God flowed through her immaculate heart of Mary.  Her body was uniquely connected to that of the Almighty in a way that was so perfect the she is forever set apart from the rest of humanity as the pure vessel who gave birth to God.  Her Immaculate Heart is filled with the life of God.  Now she has become the body which nourishes God.  It is she who was the life support system for Jesus while he became full human in her womb.  It is her body that nourishes his body.  It is her heart that comforts and soothes Jesus while he is in the womb.  Mary is the Arc of Covenant made of the most precious material of the purest nature.  It is now she that radiates the energy from which salvation will flow into this world.  Today is a day we should sit back and truly ponder Mary, the window which allows us to see the face of God.  It is her that makes the transcendent visible to us.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God in Heaven, you call me by name to be your disciple.

Help me find strength to say yes to your will.

 

Your Servant in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

They all ate and were satisfied.

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 15:29-37

 

At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there.  Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.  The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.  I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.”  The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”  “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”  He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.  Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus’ true compassion to those who gather to hear the word. Not only does he make the deaf hear and the lame walk, He nourishes their bodies both physically and spiritually. “They all ate and were satisfied.”  He renews their lives so they can experience Heaven on Earth. The crowds gather to hear Christ and they bring the lame, the blind and the deformed. They were placed at His feet and He cured them. We too are called to come before the feet of our Lord, broken and ill. We are called to offer up our suffering to the Messiah so that He can cure us. Through His words the lame will walk, the blind will see, and the mute will talk. If we journey to Christ with a contrite heart, He will fix our broken hearts and souls. Once we are cured, we are called to come to the table to rejoice in His feast. Not only can Jesus mend us, He can provide us with abundant life. He cures us and He feeds us.

 

Today’s Gospel reading is a foreshadowing of the power and abundance of the Eucharistic Meal we celebrate on Sundays. The disciples only have a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish and yet they can feed thousands. Jesus is abundant and never ending. The Eucharist never runs out. We offer up the simple gifts of bread and wine and the Holy Spirit converts them into the body and blood of Christ. We can encounter Christ daily through the Eucharistic meal. This simple act demonstrates the abundant love that Christ has for us. No matter when we go to the Eucharistic table we can receive the bread of life. However, as this Gospel reading suggests, we must be healed of our afflictions so we can see and hear the Word of God. Take time this Advent season to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a time to heal the soul and open your eyes to the true power and glory of our Father in Heaven. It is time to experience his mercy and compassion and then it is time to have communion with Christ.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I am lame and broken.

Through your mercy and compassion, make me whole again.

Allow me to hear the Word of God and spread it throughout.

Nourish me so that I can always be your dedicated servant.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:5-11

 

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, "Go," and he goes; and to another, "Come here," and he comes; and to my slave, "Do this," and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear a story of unexpected faith. The centurion tells Jesus, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” At the time of Jesus, Jews were not allowed to go into the homes of Roman soldiers, yet the Roman soldier invites Jesus into his home.  More importantly, the Centurion acknowledges his unworthiness.  The Centurion is a leader and commander of soldiers.  By his title, he must be a strong and commanding person, yet he humbles himself to Christ.  While his soldiers usually bow to him, the Centurion must bow down to Jesus to acknowledge his supremacy. In his humility, he acknowledges Jesus authority over him when he says, “Only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” This is a power the Centurion does not have.  He has many powers of the servant, but he does not have the ability to heal him.  Through this statement, the centurion not only established a belief that Christ has healing powers, but also establishes a acknowledgement of his Jewish faith. Jesus responds to the centurion, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” The Roman centurion represented power. He was in control of a large number of men. The centurion described himself as “a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me.” However, the centurion was powerless to help his servant. With all his earthly strength and power, he had no control over life and death or sickness and health. He had to admit his weakness to Christ. In admitting his weakness, he admitted the strength of his faith. When things are going good and we feel in control and in charge, it is not easy for us to recognize who really is in control. It is not until we recognize our mortality or our human limitations that we reach out for Christ. In this advent season, we should recognize that we are weak and need Christ all the time. We should prepare the way for the Lord into our life. Allow Christ to be reborn in your soul and your heart. You should use this advent season as a time of renewal, a time top awaken the spirit that is within.  It is a time to be deeply shaken for your faith.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I am a servant lying paralyzed;

Only say the word and I shall be healed.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“And one of them, realizing he had been healed, … fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19

 

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”  Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

 

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! (Psalm 1218:24) In today’s gospel, Jesus is teaching us about reverence and respect.  Zt the same time we are asked to give thanks and praise God for all he has done for us.  Give thanks this glorious day for it is truly by God’s grace that we are here to celebrate this wonderful day.

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

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 21:5-11

 

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”  He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’  Do not follow them!  When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.”  Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the Jews admiring their great temple in Jerusalem. In response to their joy, Jesus begins an 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, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone ...” He tells them this not to scare them, but to prepare them for the events that are to come. He warns them to stay true and not be led astray that there are many out there who will try to deceive them. This same message is still as true today as it was at the time of Christ. The church is constantly under attack by society. Our religious freedoms are constantly being trampled upon as the Church continues to spread her word.

 

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 nothing but an after-thought to many. One year ago, the Association of Pediatricians recommended that the Morning After abortion pill be made available over the counter for all women, even underage teenagers. This nightmare becomes reality this year. We are being led to believe that a child born to a teenager is somehow bad.  Jesus told his disciples to take heed and not be led astray. I pray that you take that same warning today. We must be careful not to follow the false prophets which are leading society through a moral decline.  We must resist the temptation to go with the flow and stand up against the atrocities which try to rob our soul of eternal life with our Father in heaven.  The Jews came under attack by the Romans and the temple was destroyed. However, the faith of the Jews persisted and the church surveyed. Today, 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. The destruction of the foundation is evident in our economy and the dependency we place on these material goods. We are also told that the Catholic Church cannot uphold its moral teachings in its own hospitals. 

 

Jesus told the Jews not to 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 all 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. Where is it that you place your hope? The things we long for are our temples. Do we long for material riches or do we long for a relationship with Christ. It is not easy to choose Christ, but the joy and the rewards are unlimited. The sadness that plagues a material desire is only compounded by the desire for more. If we turn this material desire into a spiritual desire and longing for Christ, our longing will be turned into riches that are not measurable. As we approach Thanksgiving we are called to reflect on the things we have in our lives. We should not forget to give thanks for the spiritual riches which God has given us.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you have unlimited grace and mercy.

I desire to be a faithful servant, everything I have belongs to you.

Use these possessions to help increase my spiritual wealth.

Help me to overcome my fears so that I may find the kingdom of heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 21:1-4

 

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the widow’s mite. Jesus is sitting with his disciples when Jesus saw some wealthy people making an offerings to the church.  He also noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins, all the money that she had.  This act was so significant that he said to his disciples, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; she has offered her whole livelihood.” So what is Jesus really telling his disciples? Today’s message is about sacrifice. We are told that we must be 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 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 both 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 foolish and reckless with our love for him. He calls us to give everything we have to him. Not just 10 percent or even 50 percent, but 100 percent of what we have must be given to God.  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 second coming of the Lord. What gifts and sacrifices are you offering to prepare the way for the Lord? We often do not think of this season as a time sacrifice, but a time of celebration. However, the Christmas season has become more about material glory and wealth and less about giving to others. Christmas has become so commercialized that we forget that this is the time of year when Christ was born. We should prepare the way for the Lord. We should make straight the path which leads to his Manger. It is time for us to give not only from our excess, but from the whole of our existence. We must be willing to give everything back to God, for it all belongs to Him anyway.

 

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.”

 

Gospel Reading Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

 

In today’s gospel, we hear the conclusion of yesterday’s reading.  Jesus drives out the merchants and traders from his Father’s temple telling that they have made his house “a den for thieves.” Why does he call it a den of thieves?  Because the merchants are masking the items they are selling as offerings when in reality they are defiling the temple.  All of us are called to be temples of God, but what is it that we are selling within our temple?  When we partake of the Eucharist we become a tabernacle for Christ and carry him with us.  This gospel reading is challenging us to examine “What’s in your temple?”  Jesus is really challenging us to discern our souls by asking the question, “What do I store up in my heart?” Are you more concerned about the material things in the world, the clothes that you wear or 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 the new liturgical season of Advent. 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