Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

 

Gospel Reading Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them,  “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

 

So often we want to believe that everyone will make it into heaven.  Some say all I have to do is believe and into heaven I go.  Still others say going to church is enough. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is quite clear that not everyone is going to make it into heaven, even those who go to church or those who believe in him.  This is clearly not enough. Everyone is called to participate in the formation of the Kingdom of God. God wants all men to enter the gate, but he realizes that not all of us will be strong enough to accept the things we must do to enter through the narrow gate. He gives each of us special graces which make us unique. We are called to use these graces in a way to build the kingdom. Knowing God and listening to his message is not enough. During your judgment you will say, “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.” God does not judge us on our ability to hear but our ability to do. Not everyone who hears the Gospel but those who do the will of the Father will make it into heaven. This is the good news. Some people claim that all I have to say is that “I believe”, “I’ve been saved”, or “I’ve accepted Jesus” and somehow they are given a ticket to pass through the narrow gate. This will not be enough.  It is all about participation. The Jewish people were under the impression that their salvation was guaranteed. Do we not hear that same message today, “I’m a member of such-and-such church, and therefore, I am saved.” It doesn’t work like that. You get into heaven by putting the Gospels into action.  It is in our action, our works that gives us passage through the narrow gate. 

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you have given me many graces,

Give me the knowledge and wisdom to use these graces to serve you.

Help me to be faithful in my pursuit of the kingdom of Heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“What is the Kingdom of God like?”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 13:18-21

 

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus introduces us to the kingdom of God. He compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. The mustard seed is one of tiniest seeds on earth and yet it grows into a magnificent tree that provides shelter and food for literally hundreds of birds. The kingdom of God is the same. It starts out as a small speck of love and kindness placed in our hearts and souls. And if we properly nourish this seed, it grows into this massive tree which becomes the Church within us and through us. The Church provides shelter and nourishment through the spirit of the Lord which is the food and water that causes the tree to grow. If we let God’s love into our heart, what comes forth is the kingdom of heaven.  If we close off our heart to his love, we are barren and lifeless. 

 

Jesus also compared the kingdom of God to leaven bread. The leaven created a transformation within the bread. Once the leaven is placed in the bread, the bread begins to expand and spread out. If we allow the kingdom of God to work inside us, it too will transform us and cause us to grow in Christ.  Like the bread, our love will spread to others who too will become effected by the leaven of our love. Once we have been touched by the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of God will grow within us and expand outward through us to the rest of the world. The seeds of the kingdom of Heaven have been planted within your soul.  Nourish those seeds so that they will grow and expand.  As the kingdom of Heaven grows, take refuge and comfort in her branches. 

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit is within me,

Let this spirit overwhelm my soul,

May it increase my love and desire for the kingdom of God.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:54-59

 

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?  “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus questions the ability of his disciples to see the signs. The profits had foretold the coming of Christ and now he was among them. Even with all the signs, his disciples did not recognize him as their Messiah and Savior. With all the signs from his teachings, his miracles and his compassion and love, his disciples still did not recognize him. It is as if they had closed their eyes to the light of Christ. Jesus calls them to repent and open their eyes. He calls them to witness and see who is with them. Christ came to show them the way. How many times do we miss the signs? How many times are we sitting in church and our mind is elsewhere? How many times has someone reached out to help you and you slapped their hand? Jesus is among us yet we fail to see the light. Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison.” Jesus is telling us that we must recognize and repent for our sins before our final judgment because it will be too late if we wait till then. He wants for us to ask for forgiveness now. Christ not only came to show us the way, he came to relieve us of our sins.

 

Christ is before us, open your eyes and see the light. His light exposes what is in our soul. We must do everything we can to allow God to enter into our life. It is only with God that we can conquer sin and evil. We are vulnerable to Satan’s tongue if we do not seek Christ in our daily lives. When we sin, we need to call upon God immediately. We need to ask him for peace and salvation. Jesus wanted his disciples to reach out to him, not so he could punish them, but so he could free them from the slavery of sin. God is loving and forgiving. It is his grace alone that will free you from the bondage of sin. Can you see the signs? Are you ready to surrender to Christ?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you are the light of my life.

Illuminate my soul so I can see your signs.

I want to choose what is right and what is just.

Help me find the path to your heart.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“If the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:39-48

 

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.  Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus again lectures us about being faithful and respecting the gifts which have been given to us. Jesus says, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” This should cause us to reflect on the question, “If you died today, would you be ready for your judgment before God?” God has entrusted us with much responsibility. We need to take care of God’s children and the gifts which he has bestowed upon us. Jesus says, “Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.” Jesus also warns us, “But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.” We must have faith in God that he will take care of us. This care and love must be reciprocated to others around us. We do these deeds as a demonstration of our faith and love for God. God expects us to use the gifts that he has given us to benefit others. The more he gives you, the more he expects from you. The deeper your faith, the bigger the commitment you must be willing to give. Jesus says, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” If we only use our gifts to satisfy ourselves, we are denying God’s love and we will be “punished accordingly”.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I am your servant,

I am the keeper of your gifts.

Give me the wisdom to make wise use of the gifts

So that they may benefit others

And bring them to your table.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:35-38

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

 

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us that we must be ready for our Master no matter when he arrives. In fact, God usually shows up when we least expect him and more often than not, when we are not ready for him. He places challenges before us to test our strength and our will. Jesus says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival” Even more importantly, “And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.” The question is simple, will Christ find you awake or will he find you asleep at the wheel? The question in simple terms is all about your faith and your commitment to God. Do you have true faith and trust in God? Are you willing to surrender yourself to his guard? Our faithfulness allows us to live out the will of God and to be loyal to him at all times.

 

Faithfulness is a grace from God. He gives us the strength to stand guard against evil and sinfulness. He gives us the strength to stand up against Satan and to defeat Satan at his own game. But if we become lazy in our diligence, if we become slothful, then we fall victim to Satan. Faithfulness is an exercise. It is not something we can put in the closet and take out when we want. We must exercise this muscle. Faith can make us strong. But without practicing our faith 24-7, our faith begins to weaken and the armor can fail. First, we allow little sins into our lives, maybe a little gossip, half truths or little “white” lies. Then these “little” sins grow into deception and deception into hatred. Once we become over-weight with sinfulness, it is extremely difficult to get back into shape.

 

The best way to stay faithfully fit is to pray daily and even hourly. In the morning pray for a glorious day, pray for protection and pray for your faith. Also pray for those people who need God’s mercy and most importantly, pray that God gives you the strength to fight Satan. At meals, pray for God’s blessing and thank him for the nourishment which you are about to receive. At night, take time to examine your conscience. Review the day in prayer. Find out where Satan was victorious so you can defend against him tomorrow. While examining your conscience, forgive those who have sinned against you. Find it in your heart to eliminate any hatred which forms a shroud between you and God. And lastly, before you lay your head down to rest, thank God for all the glorious graces he bestowed upon you this day. Thank him for all the people who lived the gospel and were a witness to your faith and pray that the Master finds you awake and ready when he comes.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you are my faithful Master and Servant.

You taught me to pray, you taught me to be compassionate.

Give me perseverance in my faith so I am always awake.

Lord, forgive me when I fail and when I fall asleep.

I want to always receive you as my Lord.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:13-21

 

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”  Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us a parable about building treasures. He challenges us to look at what treasures are important to us.  The rich man’s farm produced so much that he did not have enough space to store the harvest.  So what does he decide to do but to build a treasure chest to store his goods.  And how does God respond to him, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you.” When God graces us with a bountiful harvest, who does the harvest belong too? We can covet the harvest and keep it for ourselves, or we can share the harvest with others. Jesus warns us that, “Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” Our treasures are the things we hold dearest to our heart. Is your treasure based on earthly riches or is it based on spiritual richness? Our life should not be measured in the abundance of our possessions, but in the abundance of our giving and love for God and our neighbor. In the end, the only treasure we will take with us is the treasures we have in our soul. Jesus is not upset because the man was able to produce a large crop, but that the crop became the only desire of his heart. We must avoid letting earthly treasures consume our soul. These treasures we are given are to share with others.

 

A simple prayer

 

Lord, God, I thank you for the treasures you have given me.

May I not covet these treasures but share them with those in need.

May you become the treasure which is the subject of my life.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” 

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-9

 

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the call of the mission of the seventy-two disciples to go into mission.  Jesus commissions seventy-two disciples and sends them out to “heal the sick” and to proclaim that “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”  So what does it take to be a disciple of God?  Jesus told them, “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.”  The seventy-two had to detach themselves from their earthly treasures and commit themselves fully to their mission. They had to learn to rely solely on God and his abundant gifts.  The earthly treasures would just get in the way of their mission and make it difficult for them to deliver the eternal gifts of God. Jesus wanted them to rely on God and his graces and not become dependent upon the things of this world.  Jesus also tells his disciples that the mission will not be easy, “I am sending you like lambs among wolves.”  The disciples were sent out into a world who opposed them and were willing to kill them. But rest assured, these lambs were protected from the wolves by the shepherd.  Because of their commitment to God, he provided everything the disciples needed to complete their mission.  He provided their daily bread and the shelter they needed to protect their souls.  Most importantly, he provided them with the protection of the Holy Spirit.  In this Year of Faith, we are all called into service as Apostles to God.  The harvest is more plentiful today than ever before.  According to Pew Research, the second largest religion in the US is former Catholics.  Also, more people today claim not to be religious, then claim to have a religious affiliation. Unfortunately the laborers are still few.  By today’s Gospel, you have been selected by God to go out and harvest the fruits..  When delivering the message of God, not all will be receptive.  Jesus says, “If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.”  Do not be disappointed if your message is not received by all.  Some will reject you and when they reject you, they are rejecting God.  Know in your heart that God’s message was delivered and the seed was planted.  You will be rewarded for your efforts by God himself “for the laborer deserves payment.”

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God in Heaven, I am you lamb.

Give me the strength and the will to answer your call.

Transform my life so that I may be a witness of your love and truth.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:47-54

 

The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

 

Do you believe in the Word of God? As St John tells us in his Gospel, “In the beginning^* was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  The Word of God was with us from the beginning of time to help guide us and lead us to him.  God spoke to the prophets and used them as his mouth piece.   The prophets were sent to deliver the word of God to his people. Unfortunately, many of these prophets were martyred for their beliefs. Zechariah was a prophet who was stoned to death because he accused the Jews of being unfaithful to God’s laws. Abel was the first and Zechariah was the last of the prophets who were killed for their preaching and beliefs. Jesus confronts the Pharisees for the very same thing. They do not recognize Christ as the Messiah, the savior of the people of Israel. Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are no better than their ancestors who killed the prophets sent by his Father. Jesus’ coming was foretold and prophesied by the same ancestors who were tortured and killed by the Israelites. The Pharisees have not learned from their ancestors and continue to act in a similar manner. They still deny the Word of God.

 

Today we can find ourselves in the same boat as the Pharisees. We ignore the teachings God has sent through not only his prophets, but also his Son. We want to rationalize our own laws instead of the laws of Christ. God commanded us to love our neighbor, to help the poor and the meek and to reach out to those less fortunate. We are called to make sacrifices in our lives, yet we step over the very people Christ asked us to help. We become legalistic in our interpretation of the Word of God and manipulate his teachings to justify our  own greed and envy. We impose our own will and not the will of God. When we do this we take away the “keys of knowledge” which Christ provided for us. Who suffers from our actions? Not only this generation, but the generations to come. We should seek out the wisdom of God and open our hearts to His Word. We should seek the narrow door which leads us to the cross.  Anytime you say that I don’t believe or I don’t agree with the church, you are saying I don’t believe in the Word of God.  We must be willing to submit to his word and surrender our hearts to his will and not ours.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, open my mind to the wisdom of your prophets.

Open my soul to love and compassion of your son.

May I not become like the Pharisees and rationalize sin in my life.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:29-32

 

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.  Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment, the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.  At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

 

I think if Christ appeared to us today, he would say the same thing, “This generation is an evil generation.”  I think he would condemn our ways and our morals as a society.  I also think he would call us to the sign of Jonah.  So what was the sign of Jonah? Jonah was a profit who compelled the Ninevites to do penance for their sins. His actions and preaching to the Ninevites were seen as a sign that he was sent by God. The Ninevites were in trouble with God because of their sinful ways; however, Jonah so moved the people of Nineveh that they changed their evil ways.  This was the same message that Jesus brought to the Jews to free them from the bondages that tie them to this world and separate from heaven.  He came to free them from their sins.  He forgave them and set them free.  What greater message could there be.  This same message is still true today. Jesus came to free us from the slavery of sins and to free us from the burdens of evil. His divine mercy was poured out for us for our own salvation. Jesus Christ is present in our lives today and is preaching a message of repentance and grace. He is preaching a message of salvation through him.  So how do we respond to that message?  The people of Israel wanted signs through his miraculous physical healings, but the sign he wanted them witness was through his spiritual healing.  Do you seek physical signs or do you seek him out for his spiritual comfort?  We are called to examine our conscience and to seek out mercy for those sins which darken our soul. We are called to actively seek forgiveness for our sins and mercy for those around us. God has mercy on us no matter what sin we commit; we just need to be repentant and seek his spiritual healing. “This generation is an evil generation; it should seek the sign that Jonah brought to the Ninevites.” We should open up our souls and shed the things that keep us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. When we open ourselves up to the judgment of Christ, we remove the burdens that weigh us down.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, help me to recognize my sinful ways.

Help me to free myself from the bonds of Satan

It is through your mercy and goodness that I am set free.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

You are anxious and worried about many things.

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:38-42

 

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.  Martha, burdened with much serving, came to  him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

 

I believe at times we can each fit into the role of Martha and Mary.  So which role are you playing today – the worrier or the worshiper?  Do you make time for God in your busy life or are you so busy with life there is no time for God? We must not only take time to stop and relax, we must take time to stop and relax in the Lord.  You must take time to truly hear the Word of God. When you are in church, is your time spent praying about the Gospel or is it spent worrying about all the things you have to do? In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story about Martha and Mary, two very close friends and disciples of Jesus. While Jesus was visiting their house, Martha was busy cleaning house and preparing dinner while Mary sat attentively at his feet listening to his teachings. Martha, caught up in her own neediness, complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t helping. This gospel is describing two different servants of the Lord. Martha was busy preparing Jesus’ supper and is worried about the house, yet Mary was busy absorbing the Word of God and worried about her spiritual house. Both jobs are important, but we must not let our lives get so anxious and busy that we forget to take in the Lord. While the meal that Martha was preparing was important, it was not as important as the food that Mary was receiving from Jesus Christ. How many times are our lives filled with activities which keep us from church, from prayer, from sitting at the feet of Christ? When we participate in these activities we need to free ourselves from our busy schedules and open our soul to Christ. We must be willing to nourish ourselves in the Word of God. Slow down, take time to stop and smell the roses; take time for God. We need to let go and let God.  No matter how busy your life is, do not forget to pray and experience a deeper relationship with God. Take time every evening to reflect on the day and to thank God for all the wonderful things he has provided. Take time to experience the Gospel.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, set me free from my busy life so I can enjoy the wonder and awe of your life.

Free me from the chains which bind me to my earthly worries.

I want to experience your undivided love.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minutes

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:25-37

 

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied,  “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off  leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite  side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

How often do we struggle with the question that the scholar asked of Jesus. Our ultimate goal is to be united with Christ in heaven. Jesus say it’s simple, Love God with everything you have and love your neighbor even if he is your enemy.” That’s it, just love God and neighbor and I get into heaven.  How hard can that be?  In the parable in today’s Gospel reading, both the priest and the Levite leave the man on the side of the road to die.  However, the person least likely to help the man, the Samaritan, stops to render aid. Christ calls us to do the same, we are called to render aid to everyone, even to those who we do not want to render aid. So you’re probably asking, why didn’t they stop and render aid.  Because the man was bleeding and was considered unclean.  No priest of Rabbi would have stopped and touched the man because it would have made them spiritually impure. But Christ tells us that these human rituals and laws do not surpass the requirement to help our fellow man, no matter who or under what circumstance.  We must be willing to help everyone who is in need of help. We must be willing to defend everyone who is being treated unjustly. The parable tells us that not only must we render aid to everyone, but we must also help even our enemy get back on his feet.

 

How far are you willing to go for your enemy? You must be willing to die to the views of the world. God did not give us hatred, it is a learned trait given to us in our fallen world. Hatred consumes the love that God has poured out for us. Hatred causes neighbors to kill neighbors. Hatred cause us to kill our very soul. How can you go to heaven if you do not love and cherish all of the creations of God? Ask God to give you the strength to love those who you hate. Ask God to abolish the hatred in your soul so you can reach out to your enemy. How can you love God and hate one of his creations. We must treat our enemy with mercy.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, help me abolish the hatred which grows in my heart.

Help me to learn to love my neighbor as I love you.

May learn to have mercy for all as you have given mercy to me.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael F. Marcon