Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.  Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’  Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’  While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.  Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’  But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

 

In today’s gospel reading, we hear the story of the ten virgins. Like yesterday’s message, today’s message emphasizes the need to be vigilant in our quest for communion with Christ, the bridegroom. The ten virgins had oil lamps, five had a surplus of oil and five did not. The virgins were the bridesmaids whose job it was to light the way to the house of the bride. When the bridegroom approached, they would light their lamps so that the bridegroom would know where to find them. The five young virgins who had a store of excess oil where well illuminated and prepared for the bridegroom. Their lamps shone brightly all the time. The other five were not prepared because they ran out of oil. While they left to go buy more, the bridegroom arrived and entered the house. He closed the door behind him to keep out the strangers. The five who were prepared were let in and the five that were not were stuck outside. They cried out, “Lord, lord, open the door.” But the bridegroom replied, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” It is unfortunate because these five virgin’s were originally inside the house, but because they were not ever vigilant, they were drawn away from the house when the bridegroom arrived. We too must be prepared for the Lord. We may be in the house, but if we are not vigilant in our pursuit of the Kingdom, then we too can be lead away from the house. We should be prepared. We should stock up on grace so that our lamp will shine forever bright. If our lamp is week or it runs out of oil, the Bridegroom will not know us and will not let us in. We should continually renew the oil of our lamp by actively participating in the Eucharist, by living the gospel and by sharing the love which God has poured into our souls. God will provide us with an endless supply of oil if we only look to heaven for his grace.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, make vigilant and attentive to the presence of the Bridegroom,

May I be prepared when he calls me into his house.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:23-26

 

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

 

For the past couple of days the Gospel message has been focused on getting into heaven starting Sunday with the narrow gate.  In that Gospel reading, Jesus says we need to go on a spiritual diet to be able to fit through the door. Yesterday, he tells us that it is not our treasures that we offer that are important, but the one who gave us these treasures.  Today, he is setting us straight on the value of our offering.  What is it that we are willing to give to God?  In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is trying to refocus our vision of giving to include that which comes from the heart.  The Jews at the time of Jesus gave 10 percent of all their material belongings, but neglected to consider their spiritual treasures which rested within their hearts.  The treasures of judgment, mercy and fidelity are not physical items, but items which define our love for God and our compassion for others.  So why the reference to the spices? What is the importance of a few simple spices from their earthly treasures?  In the days of Christ, spices were used to cover up the spoiled tastes and smells of the food to make them palatable. Jesus tells his disciples while it is important to have the spices, we must make sure that our souls are not spoiled. We must look inward to our own heart before we look outward. We must make sure that we are worthy, body and soul, for the Lord. To cleanse our soul, we must first know how to tell if it is dirty. We do this by the process of examining our conscience. This is an exercise we should do daily. Every evening we should kneel down and reflect on the things that transpired that day; the good things and the bad things. We should look at the things that moved us closer to the Kingdom of Heaven and those things that diverted us. We should reflect on how we can make ourselves better people and reflect on the sins that kept us from God. By looking inward, we check to make sure that our soul is clean. If our soul is truly clean, then our outer image will also be clean. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.” It does no good for us to look clean if internally we are dirty. Would you drink from a cup when the inside of the cup is unclean? Who cares what the outside looks like if the liquid is in contact with filth. Through the examination of conscience, we make ourselves aware of the things that make our soul unclean. However, to truly purify the soul, we must go to reconciliation. Reconciliation is the dishwasher for our souls. We go in dirty, and we come out clean – both inside and out.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Most Heavenly Father,

Make me aware of my sins and trespasses,

Help me avoid these sins so my soul remains clean.

Fill my heart with your compassion and love

So I may find the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“One who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:13-22

 

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.' Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.' You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gets just little upset with the Pharisees because they are trying to outdo each other with their offerings. They put more worth in the offering itself instead of God.  What good is it to take your treasures to the altar when the purpose of your offering is to impress others.  As they brought people to God, they required them to give large offerings to demonstrate their worthiness. Jesus tells them that it is not the offerings of gold and silver that make us worthy but the offerings from our heart. What treasure do you bring to God’s altar?  The gold on the altar does not make the altar any more valuable. Jesus tells them, “You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?” We cannot make God any more valuable then he already is. There is nothing we can give him that will make God more Godly. God asks us to make a full commitment to Him and not to earthly things which are placed on the altar. The offerings that we bring and the oaths that we make must be to the altar of God and not to our treasures. We should not measure our heavenly value by our earthly treasures but by the commitment we give to God from our hearts. Jesus tells the Pharisees that “One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.” Today’s gospel reading is a direct attack on the Pharisees because they treasure the wealth of the items that are placed on the altar and not the God that makes the treasures valuable. To enter the Kingdom of heaven, to make it through the narrow gate, we too must put our allegiance in the hands of God.  We must be willing to give our lives to God.  We must be willing to turn it all over to create heaven here on earth.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are my master and I am your servant.

My loyalty is to you and the things that are sacred,

For it is you that makes all things sacred.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

 

Gospel Reading Matthew 22:34-40

 

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ lets us know the most important commandment, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  But he also tells us the second most important commandment – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Christ says that the second is like the first.  If that’s the case, is it just as important as the first?  When you think about the second, how can you obey the first without obeying the second.  How can you love God and not your neighbor.  If we have hatred or dissent for our neighbor, then we express the same feeling toward God. 

 

The second commandment calls us to not only love our neighbor, but to love our neighbor as our self.  We are to be ourselves to our friends, to our family, and to those who we do not even know.  But most importantly, we must learn to love those that we would rather hate.  We must love absolutely everyone.  The second commandment does not tell us to love our neighbor except those we do not like.  So what does it mean to love your neighbor.  It is simple.  You must be willing to put your neighbor’s needs before your own needs.  You must be willing to help them when they are in need.  You must be able to feed them when they are hungry, clothe them when they are naked, hold them when they are sad and comfort them when they are sick.  If we ignore our neighbor’s needs then we are ignoring the basic needs of good.   The commandment calls for us to be charitable to all.  As we would give to ourselves, we must give to our neighbor.  A feed ourselves, we must feed our neighbors who have nothing to eat.  As we clothe ourselves, we must clothe our neighbors who can’t afford to buy clothes, as we shelter ourselves, we must shelter those who have no protection.   

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord in Heaven, help me overcome the hatred in my life.

Give me the strength to open my arms to all my neighbors

That I might bring the love of God into their lives.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.” 

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:1-14

 

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us yet another parable about the Kingdom of heaven. Why does Jesus give us so much instruction about the Kingdom? Because it is not easy to enter the Kingdom.  We must want to get into heaven.  It doesn’t happen by accident.  This time Jesus uses a parable about a pending wedding feast.  The wedding feast is a celebration of the union between the bride and bridegroom.  In this particular story, a King’s son is to be married and the King sent out invitations well in advance of the celebration.  However, the invited guests, his supposed loyal subjects, the chosen people, ignored the invitation or brutalized the messengers.  In this parable, the King represents God the Father and the King’s son is Jesus, the heir to throne.  In the Gospels, Jesus is commonly referred to as the bridegroom and we the church his bride.  We are called to celebrate this union with Jesus around a great wedding feast. 

 

God has sent out many invitations, but the invitations are ignored.  As it states in the scripture, “Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.”  Instead of listening to the word of God, we too often make light of our obligations to the master and ignore his requests.  We do not take seriously the call to obey the commandments and teaching of Jesus.  Instead, we decide to follow our own rules and do what we want even though contrary to will of God.  These become the distractions in our lives which prevent us from finding the Kingdom of heaven. These distractions are our farms and our businesses.  Worse than that, sometimes we even kill the messenger.  Jesus is waiting for us, he has invited us to join him at the great wedding feast. Are we willing to come to the table? 

 

Some of us may conclude that we are not worthy to join the feast.  The parable indicates that the wedding feast was attended by both “bad and good alike.”  God is inviting everyone, even sinners to the wedding feast.  All are welcome and no one is turned away; however, you need to be properly dressed for the festival.  If we come unprepared and improperly dressed, we will be turned away.  Even though God extends his grace, we must be willing to take on the responsibility of his grace.  God’s grace only comes into our souls when we are truly receptive and prepared to receive his grace.  God invites each of us to the table that we may celebrate in joy of Lord - be prepared and properly dressed.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Father in heaven, your grace is enough,

You have prepared the banquet table for a feast

Help open my heart to your feast.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 19:23-30

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” 

 

After reading today’s gospel, one would think that being a “rich man” would be a sin.  Jesus tells his disciples: “it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”  The reference to being a “rich man” again refers to our alliances and the Kingdom of heaven refers to our soul.   So what do we store in our hearts, the love of money or the love for God.  If we fill our hearts with earthly treasures, we push out God.  We destroy his kingdom within us.  Jesus is telling us that if we invest in worldly treasures, we cannot share in the Kingdom of God because there is no room for God in our heart.  We must be willing to invest our time and our talents in the church – the one true Kingdom.  Jesus is not opposed to the wealthy; in fact he had friends who were wealthy.  But he tells us that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”  The eye of the needle was the small door that allowed late night travelers to enter into the city without having to leave the large gates open.  A man would only have to bow down to enter through this door, but a camel would have to get on his knees and crawl through the small opening.  This was a very difficult task for a camel, but not impossible.  Jesus reassures disciples that “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Putting our faith in God will allow the Kingdom of heaven to grow in our hearts.  We will not be riding high on the camel, but on our knees crawling in forgiveness and penance. 

 

God calls us to put him first.  We must put him before everything else.  Not just before money and wealth, but before life itself.  We must accept what God calls us to do.  It may mean giving up significant things including wealth.  Jesus told the disciples, “And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”  We will be rewarded for the sacrifices we make in the name of Jesus.  Jesus is telling us that no sacrifice will go un rewarded.  Whatever we place on the altar of God will become a new treasure for us in heaven.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Most heavenly Father God,

My time and my talents are yours,

Use them as you will.

You have given me so much,

May I always love you first,

And do your will.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 19:16-22

 

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

 

What is it that we all seek? I think the simple answer is everlasting happiness. In today’s world, unfortunately the definition of happiness is redefined by what the media to be the possession of material things and wealth. In today’s Gospel reading, a man poses this question to Jesus, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus first replies, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The young man replies that he is obeying all the commandments, so what else must he do. He asks this questions because he realizes that just keeping the commandments is not enough.  Then Jesus gives him the most difficult task of all, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The man left sad because he could not let go of his earthly treasures, not event for the eternal treasure waiting for him in heaven.  

 

The young man in today’s story was blessed with many treasures including significant wealth and security but yet this was not enough to make him happy. These things that he treasured kept him from fully uniting with God. Why, because he loved these treasures more than he loved God. At first read, one may think that being wealthy is a sin and that God is calling us all to become poor. This story is quite the opposite. In fact it has nothing to do with monetary wealth, but with spiritual poverty. It has to do with releasing the treasures we hold closer to heart then God so that we can abound in the joy and happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

God gives each of us many talents and many gifts. If we do not use these gifts for the glory of God, then we place these gifts higher than God. If these gifts cause us to become possessive and greedy, then we are not truly aligned with God. These treasures could be your friends, your car, your clothes, or your stereo. Right now – what is the most important thing in your life? Think hard. What do you treasure more than anything else? What is it that you can’t do without? If you answered anything else beside God, get rid of it. It is keeping you from the Kingdom of Heaven. It is causing you sadness. The gifts that God gives us will reign down on us if we release the treasures that cause us to become possessive. God always provides more to us then we give. The more we give, the more of God’s love will overflow in us. “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” Again, if the answer to “What is the most important thing in your life” is not God, then you need to get rid of it to let God more fully into our lives.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus Christ, you have blessed me with so many gifts,

I know that you are the source of all happiness,

Give me the strength to get those things out of my life that I possess more than you.

Help me to make you the greatest treasure in my life.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 19:3-12

 

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.”  They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

 

Did you remember to thank God today for all he has provided? Have you thanked God for all the graces that have overflowed in you? Have you thanked Him for giving you the breath of life? When you awaken in the morning, take 5 minutes to just lay there and think of all the glorious things that God has given you. You have been blessed with life, the ability to breathe yet another breath. You have been given the ability to touch and see God’s presence in this world. We are united with our Father in heaven through the gift of life and most importantly, the gift of baptism. Before we were born we were a spiritual being known to God and placed in the womb of our mother in our earthly body, a body which was formed from the dirt of this earth. Eventually we will be freed from the bonds of this earthly state and we will return to our spiritual life with our Father in heaven. Today’s Gospel talks about the union formed in marriage. In the beginning, we were created “male and female.”  We were one body united with God.  Because of our loneliness, God separated us into two.  Through marriage, we are reunited in this one body; one male and one female.  Through our sacrificial love for each other, we become bound with our Father in heaven.  The Pharisees question God about the legality of divorce. Jesus answers them, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” Through our Baptism, through the Eucharist and through Confirmation we form a union with God.  We become united/married to him through our faith and our hope for eternal life.  We are united with God like the marriage between one man and one woman. No man should do anything to separate us from his love and compassion for we are the Bride and Christ is the Bridegroom.  From the beginning of time, we have been linked with our creator. There is no greater loneliness, then that of divorce. When we separate ourselves from God through our sins, we effectively divorce ourselves from the Bridegroom.  He has sacrificed everything for us and we should do everything we can to avoid the separation of divorce from him through our sins.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you are the Bridegroom and I am your loyal spouse.

Like a good spouse, you provide me with everything I need.

May I cherish your love and compassion forever.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:15-20

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

 

If one of your fellow brothers or sisters were lying injured on the side of the road, would you be a Good Samaritan and help them? If they we sick in bed with the flu, would you not wish them comfort and pray for their speedy recovery? In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is asking us to be a Spiritual Good Samaritan. Not only must we care for those with physical injuries, we are also called to care for those with spiritual injuries. Jesus tells us that “your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” If a person does something to injure you, then you should seek out this person and try to make amends. Jesus tells us if we do not try to repair the relationship, then we are worse than the person who caused the sin in the first place. In the Our Father, we say, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us.” How can we be forgiven for our own sins if we do not forgive those who have sinned against us? Today’s gospel reading takes it a step further, we must approach this person and let them know that they are forgiven. Our position should not be one of condemnation or judgment, but one of compassion and forgiveness. It is good to forgive and forget, but the person who sinned against you is still wounded. Their soul is damaged by the sin they committed. Therefore, we are called to repair that wound.

 

It is so important to repair this wound that Jesus tells us if “he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Maybe you are not capable of the needed compassion to repair this wound because of the depth of the hurt. Then you should bring along someone who is level headed enough to be the mediator. Lastly, if this does not repair the injury, you should seek out the church community to pray for the situation and to give guidance. Unattended wounds caused by sin will fester and create hatred that runs deep. Hatred is the sword of the devil which he wields freely about to create chaos in the world. Just look at how many of the major world conflicts are born out of hatred; a hatred that started between two children of God. We must do all we can to eliminate and fight hatred before it grows. Hatred becomes contagious and spreads like wildfire. There is no greater feeling then reconciliation among friends. Therefore, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.”

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, forgive me for I am a sinner.

But before you forgive me, give me the strength to forgive others who have sinned against me.

Give me the strength and courage to encounter them and to heal this wound.

Make me a source of healing love and peace in this world.

 

Sincerely

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5, 12-14

 

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.  “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. 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.”

 

In today’s gospel reading, the disciples of Jesus want to know "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" The disciples, like most people, want to know how to get to the top of the list.  How can I become the “Top Dog”? They want to know who is the greatest in the eyes of God. Do we not all want to be King of the Hill. In answering the question, Jesus points to a child, someone who has no social standing in Jewish society, someone who is simple and innocent.  Someone who has not allowed doubt and greed into their life to corrupt their image of God.   So why did Jesus use a little child? It simple, a child believes without doubt or reservation. A child does not express hatred, he does not allow pride to control him, and his faith is uncompromising. Their life is simple and without the complications we as adults add to it. It is the grace of humility that all children possess that Jesus says we too must possess to be great. We must receive the children of God because they truly reflect Jesus. They are innocent, pure and tender hearted as was Jesus. Therefore, to be greatest in heaven is easy, we must simply exhibit a childlike faith.

 

The second half of today’s gospel compliments the first. The first half talks about the innocence of children and how they are the greatest in heaven. But the second half talks about the sinner, the lost sheep. Jesus tells us, “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?” A shepherd is dedicated to his flock. Not only does he risk his life for the whole flock, but also for each individual sheep.  No sheep is anymore important that than the whole flock.  If one of the sheep goes astray, he knows that the sheep will become disoriented, confused and likely die. We are also challenged to seek out the lost sinner.  People lost in sin become disoriented, confused and die to true path of righteousness. They become complacent with their sinful life and lose site of the trail which leads to the Kingdom of heaven.  What great joy God must feel when a lost sheep is brought back into the fold. Jesus calls us to act like the Good Shepherd and to actively seek the souls of those who are lost. We are all challenged to seek out and to bring the lambs home. This was Jesus’ mission on earth, to bring every lost soul to the Kingdom of God.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, teach me to have faith like a humble child.

Teach me to relive that innocence I had when I a child.

May I become a guiding light to lead others to you.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:22-27

 

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were overwhelmed with grief. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?" When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus predicts his own death and resurrection.  He tells his disciples that he must suffer great pain and be put to death, but that he will be raised on the third day.  The Gospel reading says that his disciples were “overwhelmed with grief.”  In today’s message, Jesus is telling the disciples that the world will have many demands on them and many of the demands are painful and will cause great suffering.  At the same time, Jesus is confronted about paying the temple tax; again, an earthly demand.  Jesus tells his disciples that they must pay so as not to set a bad example.  He tells Peter to go to the sea and to catch a fish and in its mouth will be a coin worth twice the temple tax.  He is to give all of it to the tax collector.  Jesus is giving his disciples two lessons; first that they must go beyond the earthly demands and set an example by overpaying the taxes and secondly, that God will provide for all their needs.  He is telling his disciples that they are not free from the demands of the world and that if they put their faith in God, he will provide for both their spiritual and earthly needs.  God demonstrates his abundance and love in many ways.  Not only does he provide the money necessary to pay the tax, but he provides enough money to pay twice the tax.  Our sins are like the temple tax, Jesus was sent by his Father to pay for those sins.  His actions more than covered every trespass we commit against God.  It is in the death and resurrection of Christ that all our spiritual taxes  have been paid and that our souls are set free from eternal damnation. Christ gives us the ultimate example in today’s Gospel.  He tells us that God gives us the abundant grace of forgiveness.  That through our own suffering, we too are called to pay the spiritual taxes of our fellow brothers and sisters.  Are you willing to suffer for your brothers and sisters?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, you sent your son to die for my sins.

I am truly sorry for every trespass I commit.

And I forgive all those who have trespassed against me.

Give me the faith to trust in you and your salvation.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:24-28

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks us a very simple questions – “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”  When Jesus talks about life, He is not referring to our earthly life but to our eternal life.  The life we will spend either enjoined with our Father in Heaven or in the solitude of Hell.  To be a true disciple of Christ, you must be able to deny oneself and the treasures which bind us to this world. To deny oneself is to disown oneself as the center of one's existence. A condition for true discipleship is the readiness to follow Jesus even to the point of giving up one's own life for Christ. We must be willing to completely sacrifice everything that we own if we are to make it to heaven. In the story of the rich man, he turned away sad because he was not able to let go of his earthly belonging for the kingdom.  Jesus tells us that whatever offering we make on earth will be repaid at the final judgment. It would be ashamed to get to the toll booth to heaven and not have enough money to enter through the gate.

 

We must realize that everything we own, everything that we have is a gift from God. Nothing that we have, our gifts, our talents or our riches is due to us but due to the grace of God. To be truly appreciative of those gifts, we must be willing to give up every single possession that we have for his mercy. If your most sacred treasure is a material thing and not God our Father in Heaven, we need to refocus our life.  Some may argue that they cannot afford to give up their money, or their other treasures because they mean too much to them. Christ says if you’re not willing to give up your earthly treasures, then you will forfeit your eternal life with God. We will be repaid according to our conduct. Do you make offers to the church? Do you give of your time and your talent? Or do you hoard these things for yourself. The treasures we build on earth could become the road block that keep us from experiencing the glory of God our Father in heaven. If we build the wall too high, we will never be able to get over to the other side.  It is time to knock the wall down and give up everything we own for the kingdom.  To give up everything is to understand that it belongs to God and should be used for his glory and not ours.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you gave the ultimate sacrifice, you suffered and dies for our sins.

Give me the strength to take up my cross and follow you.

Give me the strength to release my earthly treasures for the kingdom of God.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“But who do you say that I am?”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-23

 

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."

 

I think we are asked the most important question today, “Who do you same that I am?”  How you answer this question, completely defines your faith and your love for God.  After reading all four of the gospels, it has become quite clear that Jesus’ disciples didn’t really know who he was until the very end of his ministry; possibly not even until after the resurrection. This fact becomes very clear in today’s gospel. Jesus knows that the disciples lack the wisdom to recognize him, so he asks Peter, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they respond that "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus again asks his apostles, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter quickly responds, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." It is only Peter who recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. We too can reduce Jesus to just a good person; a person who did good things.  But he is so much more.  Not only is he the example, he is the Word and the Law who defines what we must do to come into full communion with our Father in heaven.  Peter could not have known that Jesus was the Christ on his own. It was only through the grace of God the Father allowing him to have the foresight to see Jesus for who He truly is.  It was his undivided faith and love for Jesus that allowed him to understand and see the reality of Jesus. We too are called to have this same undivided faith and love for Jesus. Jesus calls Peter a rock because his faith is rock solid. We called to imitate Peter in his faith for Jesus.  Therefore, you must ask yourself, “Is my faith rock solid?” Would Jesus call you Peter (which means Rock). Take time today to ask yourself the difficult question – Who am I? A true and honest evaluation can help you refocus your life to be more like Peter. The Gospels are transforming. Understanding who your are can be transforming as well.   

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, solidify my faith. 

Make me a rock to build you church upon.

Make my faith strong like Peter's.

Give me wisdom to bring others to you.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28B-36

 

Jesus took Peter, John, and James  and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

 

In today’s gospel message we hear the story of the transfiguration.  Jesus takes his three closest Apostles, Peter, James and John, to witness the glory of the transfiguration and to see the true glory of God.  The three Apostles fall asleep while the transfiguration begins.  When they are awakened, they witness the Glory of God shining through Jesus. At this very moment, they are overcome with the power of God.  His garments are bright white and his face is glowing like the sun.  Can you imagine what it must have been like on top of the mountain with Jesus that day?  At the transfiguration, Jesus meets with Moses and Elijah.  Moses, who represents the law of the church and Elijah, who represents the wisdom salvation, are there in front of them in their shining glory.  These two great men of God talked about the pending fate of Jesus.  This was revealed to the three disciples.  We too can be exposed to the glory of God and become witnesses of the transfiguration.  The Glory of God is revealed to us every day.  When we open our eyes to his glory, the transfiguration is revealed to us.  We can see God for who he really is.  The Holy Spirit reveals much, we just need to be receptive; we need to be awake.  We need to be awakened in him like Peter, James and John.  We can see the radiant light of his face shining upon us in the fullness of his glory.  We can behold the purity of his garments.  All we need to do is awaken from our sleep and see the Lord before us. 

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, I am a sleep,

Awaken in me your spirit,

keep me alert to your miracles,

to your words, and your actions,

Let me see your glory.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”

 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 14:13-21

 

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast  crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over– twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

 

As Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and the summit of our religion.  It is what makes us Catholic.  Today’s gospel reading is also about feeding the people.  The Apostles are concerned about the crowds that the they will not be fed.  They want to send them away, but Jesus says, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”  Jesus calls upon his own disciples to feed the crowds.  Jesus takes five loaves and two fish and feeds five thousand.  It says that “they all ate and were satisfied.”  This is the same abundance that we should experience when we encounter the Eucharist.  Jesus initiated the Eucharist meal at the last supper.  He tells that whoever eats is body and drinks his blood will have eternal life.  In other words, we will be “satisfied” when we eat the bread of life.  The meal that Jesus provided to the crowd was abundant.  At the end of the meal, the disciples gathered twelve wicker baskets full of fragments.  This abundance is also present in the Eucharist today.  While Christ sacrifice happened two-thousand years ago, it’s abundance continues today.  The abundance from the last supper is never ending.  While the heavens and earth may end, Christ abundance will not.  The Eucharistic meal will live for eternity.  As we share in the bounty of eternal life, we become more infused in the Mystical Body of Christ.  We become one with Christ.  As become one with Christ, as we become the living tabernacle, we are given the strength to feed others.  There is no need for them to go away hungry.  We are called to give them the food of life.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I am nourished by the Bread of Life.

It is through you that I find eternal life.

Strengthen me so that I may feed others.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:47-53

 

Jesus said to the disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

 

At first read, today’s gospel reading sounds like it is about the judgment day.  But in reality, it is also about the church and her mission. Jesus tells us that the "Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which gathered fish of every kind." Fish nets are non discriminating. The nets gather everything in the water, the good fish, the bad fish, the trash, and the seaweed. The fish net represents the church. The church is non discriminating. It invites everyone into her net. The church does not care if you are righteous or not. The message of Christ is available to everyone who will join her. It catches all the fish – the good fish and the bad fish. The fishermen then cull the good fish from the bad fish. The good fish are placed in coolers to preserve them while the bad fish are thrown away. Once the net has been cast it is up to the church to teach the ways of Christ, to show everyone the glory of God and to instruct us on moral value and guidance. The mission of the church is to bring us all to Christ so we can share in the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, we must be worthy to enter. The church will bring us there, but it is up to us to make ourselves worthy.  When we participate in the Gospels, the Sacraments, and the Traditions of the church, we are exposed to the teachings of Christ.  But participation is not enough, we must live out the teachings which we are taught through the Gospels, the Sacraments and the Traditions of the Church else we spend eternity separated from the Kingdom of heaven.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Father, your net has been cast.

May I be worthy of the catch.

I long for the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon