Reflection from John 14: 13-16

John 14:13-16 KJV
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. [15] If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray for the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

Communicating Love

Communicating Love

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. Let love be your highest goal!1 Corinthians 13:13–14:1

After thirty years of counselling couples, I’m convinced there are five different ways we speak and understand emotional love—five love languages. Each of us has a primary love language; one of the five speaks to us more profoundly than the other four.

Seldom do a husband and wife have the same love language. We tend to speak our own language, and as a result, we completely miss each other. Oh, we’re sincere. We’re even expressing love, but we’re not connecting emotionally.

Sound familiar? Love doesn’t need to diminish over time. The end of the famous “love chapter” of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, says that love is of great value and will last forever. In fact, the apostle Paul says that love should be our highest goal. But if you’re going to keep love alive, you need to learn a new language. That takes discipline and practice—but the reward is a lasting, deeply committed relationship.

Lord, thank you for creating each of us so differently. Keep me from assuming that my partner thinks and feels the way I do. Please give me the patience to find out how I can most effectively communicate love to my spouse.

Moses the Prophet

Moses THE PROPHET

Memorial

• 4 September

Derivation

• Hebrew: Mosheh, “saved from the waters”

Profile

Hebrew liberator, law giver, and prophet. He belonged to the tribe of Levi and was born in Egypt (10th century B.C.), at a time of grievous persecution, when Pharao had ordered the killing of all male Hebrew children (Exodus 1) Exposed on the waters of the Nile, he was rescued by Pharao’s daughter and educated at court. Having killed an Egyptian to save one of his brethren from ill-treatment, he fled to Madian where he married Jethro’s daughter (Exodus 2). God appeared to him in the burning bush and commanded him to go and deliver his brethren (3), with the help of his brother Aaron, but Pharao stubbornly refused to let the Israelites go, and the terrible chastisements known as the Ten Plagues of Egypt, only hardened his heart (7-10). However the last one, viz., the death of every first born, forced him to yield, and the Hebrews departed, after celebrating the first Pasch (11-13). Then began, under the leadership of Moses, a long and wearisome journey in the direction of the Promised Land, the dramatic episodes of which are related in the remaining chapter of Exodus and in Numbers. Only a few can be enumerated here: The Passage of the Red Sea and the Canticle of Moses (Exodus 14-15); the Manna (16); the promulgation of the Law on Mount Sinai (19-31); the many revolts of the people, who are saved each time by the intervention of their leader (Exodus 16; Numbers 13-14, 21); the march from Mount Sinai to Cades, and the stay at Cades for 38 years during which the present generation is condemned never to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 10-20); Moses himself is excluded from it because of his lack of confidence at the “Waters of Contradiction” (ib., 20); Balaam’s Prophecies (23-24). The Israelites finally reached the banks of the Jordan, after defeating the Amorrhites and Moabites, and Moses died on Mount Nebo after pronouncing the three memorable discourses preserved in Deuteronomy. He was buried in the valley of Moab, but “no man knows his sepulchre” (Deuteronomy 34), and “there arose no more a prophet in Israel like unto Moses” (ib., 10). See also, Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• New Catholic Dictionary

Matthew 11: 28-29

Confess

CONFESS

As children, most of us kept secrets from our parents. If a neighbour’s window was shattered by a baseball, we didn’t tattle on our buddy. Although we knew we were failing a subject at school, we didn’t come home and ask for more homework time. We didn’t tell our parents we were dating the “bad boy” at school. And we conveniently never mentioned that there would be alcohol at the party.

Of course, one way or another, our parents usually found out. Punishment, guilt and shame followed—a cycle repeated throughout our childhood. Sometimes our parents already knew what we were up to but deliberately waited for us to come forward and tell them. We weren’t really fooling them in the first place.

Some of us quickly learned that the punishment would be less severe if we confessed our misbehaviour before our parents learned of it from some other source. Not only were the consequences less harsh, but we discovered that the guilt and shame were more manageable.

As we start to confess the mistakes and poor choices of our past, we begin to find a new freedom in our present. Taking responsibility for our behaviour relieves the guilt and shame, and we become open to healing, reconciliation and restoration. We weren’t really fooling God in the first place; he knows about our past, present and future and has been waiting for us to come forward and confess to him. Now we can begin to experience his unconditional love and forgiveness on a deeper level. Second Corinthians 5:19 tells us that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

After we’ve completed our inventories, we’ve finished the first part of Principle Four (“Openly examine . . .”). The second aspect of this principle takes us to our next step: to “confess my faults to myself, to God and to someone I trust.” Confession means that we agree with God regarding our sins, and this consensus restores our fellowship. Principle Four sums up how we’re to obey God’s direction in confessing our sins. First, we own up to our sins before God so we can be forgiven. In 1 John 1:9 we’re assured that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Then we confess our sins to someone else whom we trust so that we can begin the healing process. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

We may be afraid to share our inventory, the good and bad aspects of our past and present. But when we do, we find the peace and freedom for which we’ve been searching, perhaps for our entire life. We need to acknowledge our shortcomings, resentments and sins. God wants us to come clean, to admit that wrong is wrong and that we’re “guilty as charged.” We need to own up, to confess the sins we’ve pinpointed in our inventory. We’ve been given incredible news in Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

It has been said that “we are only as sick as our secrets.” When we share our deepest secrets, we begin to divide the pain and the shame. A healthy sense of self-worth develops a self-esteem that’s no longer based on the world’s standards but on the truth of Jesus Christ.

Pain is inevitable for all of us, but misery is optional. In fact, when we confess, the misery goes away. In Psalm 32:3–5 David recalls, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Take a Look:

• What secret are you holding on to that needs to be brought out into the light?

• What is holding you back from sharing your secrets and sins?

• Describe the feelings you experienced after you confessed a sin to God and to someone else.

• What does James 5:16 mean to you?

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BESSED VIRGIN MARY

Faith in God

Golden Rule

Aaron;s Blessing

“May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.” 
NUMBERS 6:25

Aaron’s Blessing Num 6:22-27

A recent study concluded there are fifteen health benefits from smiling. Research shows that smiling calms the heart and reduces stress. In fact, a genuine smile encourages those around you. Without saying a word, it relays to others you are pleased with them. A smile can reassure and cheer; it communicates love and friendship. We might not always feel like smiling. Yet, even when we are in pain, in a wheelchair, or visiting yet another doctor, we can inspire others with a heartfelt smile.

In Aaron’s blessing, we find that God smiles: “May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORDsmile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favour and give you his peace” (6:24-26). In the Hebrew, the blessing was more than a prayer or a “hope-so” wish. The blessing was an “oracle”—a divine, authoritative revelation. Most likely this blessing was proclaimed every time there was a gathering of God’s people with a priest present, especially if it was a worship gathering. It is a binding blessing that cannot be revoked or prevented by evil.

God loves his people. He blesses and protects us by exercising great care and attention, guarding us as only he can. His oracle covers our every circumstance. His ear listens to our every prayer. God extends his grace to us even when we don’t deserve it. The Hebrew reads that God “lifts up his face” to give his people peace, prosperity, completeness, health, safety, and general well-being (all interpretations of the Hebrew word shalom).

When facing affliction and pain, our smile can be a message of cheer for a hurting friend. Complaining and grumbling about our circumstances, like the people in the wilderness (14:22), does not honour the Lord. But accepting the blessing and seeing God’s face smiling upon us gives us the opportunity of mirroring every part of the divine blessing of Aaron to a troubled world.

Stones of Remembrance

“These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” JOSHUA 4:7

Stones of Remembrance Josh 4:1-24

Keepsakes mark significant occasions in our lives such as births, graduations, engagements, and weddings. We save souvenirs from vacations, medals and trophies, and special hand-me-downs from our elders. We sometimes even keep things that remind us of the difficulties that we faced in our lives and somehow found our way through. These mementoes trigger memories and help us share the stories that give our children a better understanding of our history and experiences.

As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River, they may have retold stories of how God parted the Red Sea so their ancestors could cross on dry ground (see 4:23) and about the songs that Moses and Miriam wrote and sang to commemorate their dramatic escape from Egyptian bondage (Exod 15:1-21). Similarly, Joshua called together twelve men and instructed them to remove stones from the riverbed to build a memorial that would bear witness to the providence of God for generations (Josh 4:1-7).

We may not build stone altars today, but we still need reminders of God’s love and mercy. In the midst of hardships, it is easy to lose sight of the truth of God’s love. We can become trapped by erroneous thinking, worry, or complaints. Take time to consider a trial that God has brought you or a loved one through. Celebrate those hard-earned milestones. Remember Joshua’s message: “[God] did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful” (4:24).

reflection from John 3 16-17

John 3:16-17 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

POWER TO FORGIVE SINS

Biography of Saint Mary Magdalen

Saint Mary Magdalen

Also known as

• Maria Maddalena
• Maria Magdalena
• Mary Magdalene
• the Sinner

Profile

We have very little solid information about Saint Mary, and both scholars and traditions differ on the interpretation of what we do know.

She was a friend and follower of Jesus. Filled with sorrow over her sin, she anointed Christ, washed his feet with her hair. He exorcised seven demons from her. She was visited by the Risen Christ.

There are also arguments about her life after the Crucifixion.

The Greek Church maintains that she retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and lived there the rest of her life.

A French tradition says that Mary, Lazarus, and some companions came to Marseilles, France, evangelized and converted the whole Provence region, and then retired to live 30 years as a penitent hermitess at La Sainte-Baume.

Oh, some things we do know for certain - Mary wasn't Jesus' wife or mistress, she wasn't the mother of His child, she didn't found a royal dynasty or separate branch of Christianity, etcetera, etcetera, ad nauseam.

Died

the Greek Church says
• she died in Ephesus of natural causes
• her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886 where they remain today

a French tradition says
• as she lay on her deathbed, nine angels carried Mary to the oratory of Saint Maximinus in Aix where she received Communion and then died of natural causes
• she was interred in an oratory constructed by Saint Maximinus at Villa Lata (Saint Maximin)
• in 745 her relics were moved to Vézelay to save them from Saracen invaders
• at some point they were moved to a shrine at her hermitage on La Sainte-Baume; they were there in 1279 when King Charles II of Naples funded a Dominican convent on the hill
• in 1600 the relics were placed in a sarcophagus sent by Pope Clement VIII
• in 1814 the church on La Sainte-Baume, wrecked during the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution, was restored
• in 1822 the grotto was re-consecrated, still has the head of the saint, and is a pilgrimage centre

Patronage

• against sexual temptation
• apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists
• contemplative life, contemplatives
• converts
• glove makers
• hairdressers, hairstylists
• penitent sinners
• penitent women
• people ridiculed for their piety
• perfumeries, perfumers
• reformed prostitutes
• tanners
• women
• diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah
• 8 cities

Representation

• alabaster box of ointment
• long hair (refers to the wiping of Jesus' feet)

Readings

When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord's body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: "The disciples went back home," and it adds: "but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb." We should reflect on Mary's attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: "Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved." - from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great