Hunting Down Individual Souls: Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest (Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19; Mt 16:13-23)

It has certainly been an exciting few weeks.  Among other things, like an assassination attempt, the “National Eucharistic Pilgrimage” passed through town, culminating with the “National Eucharistic Congress” in Indianapolis.  The Congress was a powerful and engaging event that had people around the world watching online.  I'm still hearing stories of conversion, deepening of faith, and strengthening of relationships with our Eucharistic Lord.

I suspect the evil forces behind human secularism knew it was going to be a powerful event, and they knew it was going to be an event that could not go unanswered with a blasphemous global event of their own that contained a message attacking the heart of the “Eucharistic Revival”.

Blasphemous events rejecting Jesus Christ and His Church are nothing new.  Human secularism has a history of specifically naming their enemy.  Their enemy is not “Christianity” as it is often labeled in the 21st century, even labeled by most Catholics.  

In many ways, the Protestant Reformation was one of the first successful declarations of human secularism against Jesus Christ and His Church.  The Protestant Reformation that came to deny the divine nature of the Mass.  The Protestant Reformation that came to deny the High Priesthood of Christ exercised through Holy Orders. The Protestant Reformation that came to deny the actual Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

The Protestant Revolution then led directly to the French Revolution.  Pushing the boundaries of their evil agenda even further, the French Revolution further solidified the human secularist position, leading to Marxism, Communism, and Nazism.  Under this movement, the Mass, the Priesthood, and the Eucharist were out right condemned by many secular authorities, punishable by death.

In the early 20th century, Freemasonry (another product of the French Revolution) was celebrating their 200th anniversary.  In Rome, there was a particularly vivid celebration.  Flags and posters depicting St. Michael the Archangel being conquered and trampled underfoot by Lucifer. Long processions included blasphemous songs and banners with slogans referring the triumph of Satan over the Church.

Following this, the 20th century saw a complete erosion of the Christian faith.  Up until that time, at least non-Catholic Christian communities had some resemblance to the true faith given to us by Jesus Christ.  Now, non-Catholic Christianity is just a free-for-all of relativism and human secularism.  If we are being honest, some “Catholic” circles are not much better.

None of us should be shocked or the least bit surprised by this latest declaration of human secularism that we witnessed in the opening ceremony of the Olympics.  A ceremony mocking the Last Supper.  The Last Supper which was the moment of institution of the Mass.  The Last Supper which was the moment of institution of the ministerial priesthood.  The Last Supper which was the moment of institution of the Eucharist.  

There is no doubt that the human secularists know their enemy, and it is specifically the Catholic Church.

Watching the Freemasons in Rome, Saint Maximilian Kolbe asked, “Is it possible that our enemies should make such a display of force in order to defeat us while we fold our hands in our laps and do nothing? After all, do we not have much more powerful weapons; can we not count on all of heaven, and especially on the Immaculata?”

Saint Maximilian Kolbe would go on to write, “For us it is not enough just to defend religion. With all our might, and trusting in our Queen, we advance even into the enemy camp, in order to hunt down souls and to win them for the Immaculata. Every heart that is beating somewhere in the world and every one that shall beat until the end of the world, must be captured for the Immaculata: that is our goal!”

Hunting down individual souls.  That is the key.  We will not win this war through the media nor any other arena of the secularists.  We will only win this war on the battlefield of the heart: one-to-one evangelization, creating relationships, building trust, loving them out of their current secular worldview of lies into the true sacramental worldview Jesus Christ gave us in His Catholic Church.  

And, this is ultimately the point of “All Things New”, of the “Eucharistic Revival”, and of the “New Evangelization”.  Over the coming months, you will become increasingly familiar with the phrase “from maintenance to mission,” referring to our renewed call to become missionary disciples.  As missionary disciples, we have a special role in this covert operation behind enemy lines. When that call comes, boldly answer it.  Be strengthened through faith that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee, and also for all those who do not have recourse to Thee, especially for the enemies of holy Church and for all those who are commended to Thee.

Thanks be to God.

Lord, In Your Great Love, Answer Me: Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Jer 26:11-16, 24; PS 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 14:1-12)

Lord, In Your great love, answer me.

I believe this responsorial psalm can be a beautiful and power mantra that we can take to prayer to maintain hope in times where we may be tempted to despair, particularly as it relates to the lost sheep in our lives.  We must always remember, as far away as our loved ones may seem from the Lord, there is always hope and one fact remains, love never fails.

Some of you have heard my story as a lost sheep.  Unfortunately, we don't have the time for a witness of that nature today.  But, you might remember when I first walked through these doors 18 years.  Wrangler Jeans, Charlie Horse Cowboy hat, and matching black leather cowboy boots....I even had the large belt buckle.  I'm sure some would say I was quite a sight.  But, it was what you couldn't see, beneath the cowboy persona that told the real story.

Sitting in these pews, I learned the the heart cannot be ruled by two masters.  Mine was ruled by the fear...the great fear that comes with the world, the flesh, and the devil as opposed to being ruled love...the great love of God that answers our greatest needs as described in our Psalm today.  While I certainly can't speak for every lost sheep out there, I suspect many of them can probably relate to this dichotomy of fear vs. love.  In the midst of the chaos and confusion between these two opposing powers, the great news is that Love never fails.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe taught this followers to be submissive to the Immaculata and to have faith that she would teach them limitless confidence in the mercy and love of God.  Our call is to imitate Mary in all things, imitate her life of prayer, imitate her contemplation of the mysteries of God (which encapsulate the sacramental life of the Church), and imitate her trust in Divine Providence (even as it relates to the salvation of those closest to us).  Because Mary is the model of prayer, she is also the model of evangelization and a model for how we minister to the lost sheep in our lives.

The Holy Spirit will help us, just as He helped Mary.  Saint Louis De Montfort said, "The Holy Spirit, finding His spouse (the Immaculata) present in souls, will come down into them with great power. He will fill them with His gifts, especially wisdom, by which they will produce wonders of grace.  This fiery deluge of pure love with which they are to set the whole world ablaze and which is to come, so gently yet so forcefully, that all nations (including our lost sheep)...will be caught up in its flames and be converted." 

Brothers and sisters, that is incredible news; particularly resonate on this first Saturday.  As we unite our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, truly surrendering our lives and our wills to the Flame of Love, it will be the Holy Spirit that prays within us, sighing and groaning for the hurts and pains in our lives.  Our efforts to evangelize to and minister to the lost sheep in our lives then becomes not our work, but the work of the Flame of Love indwelling us.  So, have faith and hope which is the key to prayer.  Truly surrender to and trust the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: after all, love never fails.  

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Faith, hope, love, surrender, trust...these are simple concepts of the spiritual life.   They are not easy, they are simple.  There are some practical things I have added to my prayer life to help strengthen these virtues in my spirituality, particularly as it relates to the lost sheep in my life. I would like to share a handful of these tools with you that you may be strengthened in these virtues.

#1 Consecrate yourself to to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  There are many different formulas of consecration out there, such as “33 Days to Morning Glory” and “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”.  The method of consecration that is part of my spiritual journey is enrollment to the Militia of the Immaculata, which was started by Saint Maximilian Kolbe.  The idea is to consecrate yourself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that she may make full use of you as an instrument for the work she herself undertakes, namely, to help souls in their sanctification.  Total consecration to Mary will form you into a vessel of the Flame of Love, just as Mary is.

#2 Wear the Miraculous Medal and encourage others to do so as well.  Saint Maximilian Kolbe understood the power God had given Mary to change hearts.  Therefore, he adopted the Miraculous Medal as an external sign of internal devotion.  He knew the history of conversions associated with the medal and the message of Mary when she said: “all those who wear this medal will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their necks. I shall bestow many graces on those who put their trust in me.”  Personally, I have come to see the Miraculous Medal as a spiritual lightening rod of sorts for the effect of grace of the Flame of Love.  I think you will as well.

#3 Carry a Green Scapular and use it to consecrate our lost sheep to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  When the Immaculate Heart of Mary is invoked through the Green Scapular, Our Lady will obtain great favors from her Divine Son—especially in the area of spiritual conversion.  Mary will obtain the conversion of those who have fallen away from the True Faith, or who had never possessed it.  By consecrating your lost sheep to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the Green Scapular, they will have access to this grace of conversion.  In fact, consecrate your entire family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the Green Scapular, regardless of whether or not they are lost sheep  Every day, I consecrate my wife, my children, my grandchildren, and my Godchildren to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the Green Scapular.  I hope you will do the same.

#4 Fasting.  Fasting is another often forgotten tool in the spiritual toolbox, yet even Jesus said some demons can only be defeated through prayer and fasting.  Fasting is meant to empty ourselves in order to focus more on God and others.  Through this emptying, we can be a better conduit for the effect of grace of the Flame of Love.  The graces made available through our fasting can be applied to the conversion of our lost sheep.  There are several methods of fasting out there.  Find one that works for you and then fast diligently, fast intentionally, and fast frequently for the intention of the conversion of your lost sheep and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

#5 Most importantly, is the Eucharist.  Jesus changed my life, drastically, dramatically, and dare I say miraculously, through His real presence in the Eucharist.  The Eucharist will change the lives of our lost sheep.  Every single Mass is an opportunity to join the intention of the conversion of our lost sheep to the intentions of Jesus on Calvary.  Every single Mass is an opportunity to be strengthen as a prophet to spread effect of grace of the Flame of Love to those around us and to be a visible sign of the joy of the gospel...a joy that most people outside the Catholic Church are desperately in search of.

Also, take up a regular practice of Eucharistic Adoration.  Take advantage of our adoration chapel to sit with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane for the intention of our lost sheep.  Pray with Jesus as He lifts His mind and soul to the Father surrendering His will to the will of the Father that the Father's will may be done through Him across all time and space.  The intentions of the conversion of our lost sheep can be part of that divine exchange.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe said “Eucharistic adoration is the greatest power in the universe, capable of transforming us and changing the face of the world.”   That transforming grace can be applied to our lost sheep.

One other thing you can do related to the Mass is to have your guardian angel invite the guardian angel of your lost sheep to attend Mass with you.  Pray that the transforming power of the Mass and the Eucharist will be carried back to them through their guardian angel.

Pope Francis has titled 2025 to be the Jubilee Year of the “Pilgrims of Hope”.  In doing so, our Holy Father said “the forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth  that we so urgently desire.”  Particular focus of the Jubilee is on helping people repair their relationships with God and come to a deeper sense that Love never fails. 

I am soliciting ideas of things we can do in 2025 to help make the Jubilee year a true encounter with the great love of God within Incarnate Word.  Ideas that will hopefully be good opportunities to reach out to and engage our the lost sheep in our lives.  If you have ideas, let me know.  We can put together some recommendations for Father to consider. 

Additionally, I am leading a group from the parish on a Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome in September 2025 to gain the Jubilee Indulgence.  Of course, all are welcome to join us.  However, the main reason I mention it now is that as we get closer to the pilgrimage, I hope you will help me compile a list of the lost sheep associated with Incarnate Word.  My intention is to spiritually carry them on this great pilgrimage of hope, to be an intentional intercessor for their conversion, for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart in their lives, and that the extraordinary graces the Holy Father and the Church are making available will be made manifest in their lives in a profound way through the effect of grace of the Flame of Love.

Ultimately, the conversion of others starts with prayer and your own personal sanctification.  Allow the  Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to rekindle the awe of the Sacramental Life.  Renew and deepen complete trust in the promises Christ has made through His Holy Catholic Church.  Take every opportunity to have a real and substantial encounter with Him through, with, and in the Eucharist.  In prayer, raise your mind and soul to God uniting your will to the will of God so that God's will may be done in you and thus in the entire world.  The more you can do these things, the more you will become what you receive at Mass.  Then, you can be a true missionary disciple.  Then, you can be a true prophet of love and reconciliation to the world.  Then, you can lead the lost sheep home, to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, never, ever, lose hope.  If the Flame of Love can transform Cowboy Scott into Deacon Scott, He can change anyone and bring them to a life of grace.  Why?  Because Love never fails.

Thanks be to God!

Live Stream Recording

See the Face of the Lord, Now: Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot (Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9; PS 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16; Mt 10:7-15)

“Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.”  This was the responsorial for Mass this morning.

It strikes me that the idea of seeing the face of the Lord is a very profound thought, yet a thought that we risk taking for granted.  The idea of seeing the face of the Lord has a very prominent meaning in our Faith, and it manifests itself in a number of ways that is meant to enrich out spiritual lives.

Perhaps one of the first thoughts that come to mind when we think about seeing the face of the Lord is the moment of our particular judgment, when our mortal life comes to an end.  We will indeed meet the Lord face-to-face in a very profound way on that day.

That meeting with Jesus will then hopefully lead to the ultimate fulfillment of what it will mean to see the face of the Lord when we are admitted into the beatific vision of heaven.

But, we do not have to wait until the end of our mortal life to experience the face of the Lord.  Practically speaking, there are two ways we can spiritually see the face of the Lord now.

One way is through spiritual mysticism, including Lectio Divina, Contemplative Prayer, and most profoundly through the Eucharist.  I had the opportunity to lead the Benediction for the July Encounter at our parish.  The theme of the witness was relationships, which our Youth Director kicked off referring to adoration as an opportunity to be face-to-face with Jesus.  The evening reminded me that going to Eucharistic adoration on a regular basis can actually go beyond face-to-face to a point where it can bring two hearts (our heart and the heart of Jesus) so close that two hearts mystically beat as one.

The other way is spiritual asceticism, where we can see the face of the Lord through sacrificing our own worldly pleasures in service to others...seeing the face of Jesus in the face of those we serve.  This is the essence of the Archbishop William Lori's challenge this month to support one effort to serve the poor and those most in need in our community.  There are many ways people currently meet this challenge, through Saint Peter and Paul Community Services, Saint Vincent de Paul, and other ministries and outreach organizations.  Hospital ministries and taking communion to the home-bound have always been powerful encounters for me.  If you are not currently involved in an outreach ministry, pray about how the Lord may be calling you to see His face through a ministry of service...even if it is just a small donation to an area charity that serves the poor.

Regardless of our current level of involvement in serving the poor and needy, I think His Excellency had some good reflection questions to take to prayer:

• Do you recognize that Christ has work for you to do in this life?
• When you see suffering around you, is your first response to consider what Christ might be asking you to do?
• How can you grow in your awareness of the tasks Christ is asking you to undertake?

Ultimately, the goal is to be open to and respond to the movements of the Holy Spirit to develop in you a great devotion to our Lord through the Eucharist and through service to others.  For it truly is He who teaches us to walk, takes us up in His arms, and leads us with bands of love.

Thanks be to God.

Prophetic Homecoming: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ez 2:2-5; Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6)

 

Jesus and I find ourselves in a similar situation today.  Jesus came home to Nazareth to preach for the first time since beginning his ministry.  Interestingly, it seems the best response His preaching received from His former neighbors included statements similar to "Isn't he just the son of the carpenter?"  If you read Luke's version of this event, it appears the preaching of Jesus in Nazareth ends with his former neighbors trying to throw Him off a cliff.  And here we are, I find myself back in Jasper County to preach for the first time since being ordained into the Permanent Diaconate.  I'm very grateful that my audience, if you will, is more hospitable and more open to the Word than it seems the Nazarenes were.  But, I think I'll stay away from the river bluffs after Mass, to play it safe.

In the first reading, the Lord says to Ezekiel, “Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.”  That statement, begs a question, do you consider yourself a prophet?  It is a serious question, especially in our post-modern world that is full of hard-faced people and full of people with obstinate hearts.  A world where the light of authentic Catholic faith given to us by Jesus and the Apostles seems to continue to dim by the day.  Let's face it, just like the days of Ezekiel, we're desperately in need of true prophets.

I had the honor of baptizing my two grandchildren last week.  Directly after the actual baptism, the rite calls for the newly baptized to be anointed with the Holy Chrism.  This is an anointing into the full ministry of Christ as Priest, Prophet, and King.  The key element of that anointing as it relates to our readings today is, of course, the ministry of Prophet.  That means, by virtue of your Baptism (and later completed with your Confirmation) you have been given the charism of prophecy.  Of course it is up to us to exercise that charism through, with and in the Eucharist, to allow it to truly take root deep within us, and to grow for the glory of God!  But it is true, Baptism and Confirmation makes you a prophet.

Being a true prophet doesn't mean you need to be able to quote the entire Bible.  Nor does it mean you will provide some new and exciting revelation.  In fact, most people I know that can quote the entire Bible can usually only preach their own personal interpretation of what they have read as opposed to proclaiming what Christ and the Apostles actually taught.  And those that claim to have a new and exciting revelation are almost certainly false prophets.  

Consider this: how many people out there call on the name of Jesus to heal our land, but at the same time reject Him in the Eucharist and reject His Holy Catholic Church?  I see it every day.  Can we really expect Jesus to heal this land if on the other hand we reject His very presence in the Eucharist?  Can we really expect Jesus to heal this land if on the other hand we reject the Sacraments that He instituted for our salvation?  Brothers and sisters, we need prophets!  

We need prophets that have a truly intimate relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist and can convey that sacred love to others.  We need prophets that can, as it says in the Catechism, “call the whole of humanity together into the true Church of Jesus Christ which is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation.”

Pope Francis said a prophet is simply someone who “shows Jesus to others, who witnesses Jesus, who helps Jesus live today and build tomorrow according to His design.”  It is that simple, being a prophet is speaking the name of Jesus to others and sharing how He and His Holy Catholic Church have touched your life.

If you have had a powerful encounter with the Lord through the Eucharist, then you know exactly what I am talking about.  An encounter that has simply left you awestruck at His presence before you under the veil of what only appears to be simple bread and wine.  The reality is that prophets draw strength from these types Eucharistic encounters with our Lord, similar to the disciples on the road to Emmaus that came to recognize the Lord through the Breaking of the Bread.  Will you recognize the Lord when Father Breaks the Bread in a few minutes?

I ask, because just like the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, every single Mass is an opportunity to have this type of Eucharistic encounter.  Every single Mass is an opportunity to join our offerings to those of Jesus on Calvary.  Every single Mass is an opportunity to offer our desire to be in deeper intimacy with the Lord and to be strengthened in the identity of prophet that we have received by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation.

If you haven't had an encounter of this nature, especially if you do not recognize the Eucharist as the actual Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, then I implore you to do yourself a favor.  Take this unique opportunity that we have before us to throw yourself into the Eucharistic Revival that is currently going on.  

There are several online resources that I am happy to share.  In addition to that, as you have probably heard several times by now, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will be passing through Effingham and Teutopolis on the 11th and 12th, followed by the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis during the week of the 17th.  

Regardless of how you engage in this important revival, allow yourself to rediscover and fall more deeply in love with the true source and summit of the Christian faith, the true source of strength for both prophets and martyrs, the true bridegroom that desperately wants to heal our land if only we would truly believe in His word that we must “eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood” and therefore fully live the Sacramental life of His Holy Catholic Church.

As I wrap up, I realize some of you doubt my words and you will continue to see the Eucharist as a mere symbol.  Those of you who knew me when young, when I was just....well, I can hear the Nazarenes now:  "Isn't he just the son of the hog farmer?"...did you ever think I would come back one day to do what I am doing here today?  That is the power of the Eucharist.  That is the power of the Eucharist that is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, as Saint John described in his Gospel.  That is the power of the Eucharist, that is truly the new and everlasting covenant, as Saint Paul described in his epistle to the Corinthians.  That is the power of the Eucharist, that is truly the source and summit of our Christian faith.  

Jesus changed my life, drastically, dramatically, and dare I say miraculously, through His presence in the Eucharist.  The Eucharist will change your life, if you truly believe that Eucharist really is Jesus Christ.  The Eucharist will heal this land, if we bring non-Catholics back to the true Gospel, the true good news which can only be the Eucharist...the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ Himself.

Brother and sisters, allow the Eucharistic Revival to rekindle the awe of the Sacramental Life of the Catholic Church.  Put your complete trust in the promises Christ has made through His Catholic Church.  The more you can do this, the more you will become what you receive at Mass.  Then, you can be a true missionary disciple.  Then, you can be a true prophet of love and reconciliation to the world.  Then, you can lead the lost sheep home, to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Christ.  Thanks be to God.

Make your personal Eucharistic Revival the real fireworks this July!!

The National Eucharistic Revival has been an amazing opportunity to renew our dedication to the source and summit of the Christian life, to truly let His love kindle our hearts, to transform us into true prophets to share His Love with the world. If we truly have faith that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, God will heal and renew our lives, our families, our country, the world, and our Church through the Eucharist.

Make your personal Eucharistic Revival the real fireworks this July!! Take advantage of these online resources to make the most of the remaining days of the Eucharistic Revival:

Jesus and the Eucharist

Year of Mission Playbook

National Eucharistic Congress

Diocese of Springfield Illinois Eucharistic Congress

Diocese of Marquette Eucharistic Congress

Archdiocese of Saint Louis Eucharistic Revival Lecture Series, Dr. Lawrence Feingold

On the Road to Emmaus, Diocese of Lansing

Perpetual Eucharistic Revival,  Fr. Donald Calloway

The Fourth Cup, Dr. Scott Hahn

The Lamb's Supper, Dr. Scott Hahn

Lectio – Unveiling Scripture and Tradition: Eucharist, Dr. Brant Pitre

The Eucharist, A Taste of Heaven, Dcn. Harold Burke-Sivers and Fr. Brian Mullady 

The Eucharistic Miracles of the World

The Theology and Science of the Eucharist

The Science Behind Jesus's Blood Type

Miscellaneous Resources from the Revival

Eucharistic Revival, Knights of Columbus

Looking for in-person revival?

Join me Wednesday, July 3^rd, at 7:30pm at Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield, MO for a powerful evening of adoration and praise at Encounter.

Also, check out the full schedule of in-person events, including the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and the National Eucharistic Congress related to the Eucharistic Revival.

Baptismal Pilgrimage with the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:30-35)

There are certain readings in Scripture that encapsulate the Sacramental Life Jesus Christ instituted in His Holy Catholic Church. I believe this reading from Luke is one of those readings. It encapsulates the Sacrament of Baptism in a very particular way that enables us to spiritually enter into the full mystery that we are about to experience.

Let's take a quick review of the characters in this parable. Each of us have been in the role of the victim, prior to our Baptism. We had been robbed of original dignity by the father of lies and left to an existence without the life of grace. But Baptism restores this dignity and births us into the life of grace, it births us into the Sacramental Life of the Church. These children are our victim today.

The Good Samaritan, as you might imagine, is Jesus. He anoints the victim with oil and wine (the wine representing the Sacraments of Initiation which are Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist). He bandages the wounds of the victim (the bandages representing the Christian dignity that comes with Sacramental birth). Today, as we celebrate this Sacrament, Jesus will anoint these children with two different oils. The first is the oil of catechumens, which is used for the anointment of spiritual protection. The other is the Sacred Chrism, which is used for the anointment into the three-fold mission of Christ as priest, prophet, and king. Between the two anointings, of course, is the Baptism itself, where these children will be reborn through water and the Spirit. The bandages in the parable are represented by the white baptismal garments, which these children are already wearing.

In the parable, the Good Samaritan takes the victim to the Inn and asks the Innkeeper to take care of the victim until he returns. Many don't realize this, but the Inn is the Catholic Church and the Innkeeper is the Pope, echoing the three-fold instruction of Jesus to Peter in the Gospel of John to tend to and feed His sheep until He returns at His second coming.

Today, we will mystically retrace the steps of the of the Good Samaritan. Every well-designed Church has the baptismal font at the main entrance. The idea is that through Baptism, we are born into the Sacramental Life of the Church. Once the Baptism at the font is complete, we will do for these children that which the Good Samaritan did for the victim. We will carry them to the altar, just as the Good Samaritan carried the victim to the Inn.

Once at the altar, we will follow the model of Scripture as it relates to the infancy of Jesus. In accord with Jewish tradition, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to God at the Temple. The Catholic Church has preserved this ancient and Sacred tradition. At the altar, not only will we present these children to God, entrusting them to His care that they may be fortified by the Sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church for the rest of their lives, but we will also give the parents a special blessing, just as Mary received a special blessing from the Temple priests.

Let us begin our spiritual pilgrimage with the Good Samaritan.

True Enmity: Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Gn 3:9-15; Ps 130:1-8; 2Cor 4:13-5:1; Mk 3:20-35)

Every time I read Genesis Chapter 3, or hear it read at Mass, one word always jumps out at me.  I hope this word jumps out at you as well.  That word is enmity!

Enmity has a special significance in the apostolic traditions of our faith, going back 2,000 years, and even back thousands of years earlier when you start to trace it back in to the Jewish roots of Catholicism.  But, outside of the handful of times we encounter the word enmity in Scripture, it isn’t a word that we have a whole lot of exposure to…particularly from the perspective of our daily vocabulary.

The Webster dictionary defines enmity as “active and mutual hatred or ill will.”  But this definition falls well short of the true context of what enmity really means in light of salvation history and our spiritual lives.  

The secular sense of the word enmity is based on the circumstances of the moment.  It is conditional as the moment passes.  That means it is temporary, or to borrow a word Saint Paul used in the epistle, it is transitory.

It is only natural that watered down definitions of key words that we use to describe our theology will lead to confusion and misunderstanding as it relates to the core dogmas of the Christian faith; including the dogmas referenced in our readings today:  the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the indivisible nature of the Kingdom of God, which is truly the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  The Church, as Saint Paul described in the epistle, is built by God, not by human hands, but eternal in heaven.

With this eternal perspective in mind, what can we truly say about the word enmity?  To keep it simple, we can say the opposition of enmity is absolute, irrevocable, and ultimately complete.  This is what makes the revelation of the Immaculate Conception of Mary so very powerful and so very relevant to our spiritual lives and ultimately our salvation.

At the moment of her conception, Mary received a special and unique charism from God.  It was a return, if you will, to the original innocence humanity enjoyed before the great fall.  It was a return to a state of being where humanity did not know sin, and humanity did not have a fallen nature.  It was a return to a state of being where humanity was everything Satan is not; particularly, in full and perfect communion with God.

Ultimately, Mary’s gift was gift of full conformity to the Love of Christ.  From the very moment of her conception, Mary was completely ordered to Christ in every aspect of her being.

While it is fitting that Mary received this special grace that enabled her to fully live out her unique vocation as the mother of God, we must remember that we too are called to be completely ordered to Christ in every aspect of our being.  Or, as it states in the Catechism, ‘every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness, and thus achieve blessedness’.  Those who die in communion of holiness with God and are perfectly purified (perfectly purified meaning completely ordered to Christ), will live with Christ for ever in heaven.  It is this state of absolute holiness that constitutes the true context of what it means to be in enmity with Satan.

We may wonder how we can ever truly experience enmity with Satan if Mary required this one-time charism from God.  Mary’s Immaculate Conception is truly incredible, but God has given us a similar, incredible gift.  Saint Paul references this reality in the epistle.  He says the ‘grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people causing The Thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.”  That word Thanksgiving, “The Thanksgiving”, is a direct reference to the Eucharist, or Eucharistia (εὐχαριστία), in the first century Greek that Paul used to write his letters to the Corinthians.

Brothers and Sisters, all of this points to an irrefutable, objective Truth that we are obligated to believe as Christians.  The Eucharist and the other six Sacraments Jesus Christ instituted in the Catholic Church are actions of the Holy Spirit, just as the Immaculate Conception of Mary was an action of the Holy Spirit.  Each Sacrament is a movement of Grace that has as its goal total conformity to the Love of Christ and participation in His divine nature.

Living the Sacramental Life of the Church, as instituted by Jesus Christ, truly is the narrow path of salvation.  The Sacramental Life of the Church is the critical means of God’s plan to enable us to live a life of enmity with Satan and to become completely ordered to Christ in every aspect of our being…to truly live a life that is happy, joyous, and free through the total and absolute conformity to the Love of Christ.  

Please know of my prayers for you to continue to grow in the sacramental life of the Church and to allow yourself to be more deeply conformed to the Love of Christ.  Let us walk this journey of faith together on the narrow path of salvation as we trudge the road of happy destiny.  And together, may we come to more fully realize that what was true in the beginning is true for all eternity:  God promised Mary would have enmity with Satan.  What God promised to Mary, He offers to all of us through the Sacraments of His Holy Catholic Church.  The true holiness that consists of enmity with Satan and conformity to the Love of Christ is the challenge, the privilege, and the reward of being authentically, thoroughly, and unapologetically Catholic.  Thanks be to God!

Act of Entrustment and Consecration of Deacons to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

 Immaculate Mother,

in this place of grace,

called together by the love of your Son Jesus

the Eternal Servant, I,

a son in the Son and His deacon,

consecrate myself to your maternal Heart,

in order to carry out faithfully the Father’s Will.

I am mindful that, without Jesus,

I can do nothing good 

and that only through Him, with Him and in Him,

will I be an instrument of salvation

for the world.

Bride of the Holy Spirit,

obtain for me the inestimable gift

of transformation in Christ.

Through the same power of the Spirit that

overshadowed you,

making you the Mother of the Saviour,

help me to bring Christ your Son

to birth in myself too.

May the Church

be thus renewed by deacons who are holy,

deacons transfigured by the grace of Him

Who makes all things new.

Enable me to be an example of this grace.

Mother of Mercy,

it was your Son Jesus who called me

to become like Him:

light of the world and salt of the earth.

Help me,

through your powerful intercession,

never to fall short of this sublime vocation of the diaconate,

nor to give way to my selfishness,

to the allurements of the world

and to the wiles of the Evil One.

Preserve me with your purity,

guard me with your humility

and enfold me with your maternal love

that is reflected in so many souls

consecrated to you,

who have become for me my

true spiritual mother.

Mother of the Church,

obtain for me the grace to be a true servant

who does not serve myself

but rather give myself to God for His children,

finding my happiness in this.

Not only with my words, but with my very life,

I want to repeat humbly,

day after day,

my “here I am” and my “let it be done to me according to your word”.

Guided by You,

I want to be an Apostle

of the Flame of Love,

glad to assist at the celebration of

the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar as often as possible,

proclaiming the Gospel joyfully, 

marking the hours of each day and 

sanctifying the day with prayer,

and facilitating communion in the Church through

my service to the least of my brothers and sisters.

Advocate and Mediatrix of grace,

you who are fully immersed

in the one universal mediation of Christ,

invoke upon me, from God,

a heart completely renewed

that loves God with all its strength

and serves mankind as you did.

Repeat to the Lord

your efficacious word:

“They have no wine”,

so that the Father and the Son will send upon me

a new outpouring of

the Holy Spirit.

Full of wonder and gratitude

at your continuing presence in our midst,

in the name of all deacons

I too want to cry out:

“Why is this granted me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Our Mother for all time,

do not tire of accompanying me,

consoling me, sustaining me.

Come to my aid

and deliver me from every danger

that threatens me.

With this act of entrustment and consecration,

I wish to welcome you

more deeply, more radically,

for ever and totally

into my human and clerical life.

Let your presence cause new blooms to burst forth

in the desert of my loneliness,

let it cause the sun to shine on my darkness,

let it restore calm after the tempest,

so that all mankind shall see the salvation

of the Lord,

Who has the name and the face of Jesus,

Who is reflected in my heart,

for ever united to yours!

Amen

(Adapted from Pope Benedict XVI)

Victory on the Battle Field of the Heart — Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter

I’m sure many of you had the same reaction I had when I learned the campaign to enshrine abortion rights in the Missouri constitution had submitted more than double the required number of signatures to move forward with the next step of the ballot initiative.  It certainly was not a joyful moment.

I found myself entering a rat hole reflecting on the extreme measures the campaign went to in order to gain signatures: meeting strangers on the side walk, striking up a conversation, and developing just enough of a relationship to get a signature…while realizing I had done none of that.  I had to remind myself that this moment is not a moment to waste on weeping and mourning of the current circumstance, but rather a moment of seeking to prepare for the next conflict between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death.

I had to take stock of the situation by reminding myself that our recourse to this surely is not in Jefferson City and Washington DC, but ultimately in the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

That caused me to reflect on my spiritual life.  I assessed the level of prayer I am currently at, and challenging myself to increase it all the more.  Can I pray more rosaries with the intention of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart.  Can I go to Mass more often, potentially everyday, with the intention to defeat this amendment proposition on our hearts to be lifted up to the Lord.  Can I fast more.  Jesus said some demons can only be cast out with prayer and fasting.  I know there are several methods of fasting out there.  I just need to find one that works for me and then fast diligently, fast intentionally, and fast frequently for the intention to defeat this amendment proposition.

Ultimately, this war ultimately will not be won in Jefferson City or Washington DC.  This war will only be won on the battlefield of the heart.  To win the battle, it seems to me that we can take a lesson from the signature campaign.  It seems to me it is time for us to cross the battle line.  It is time that we cross into the enemy territory of the Culture of Death to befriend those who have beliefs that not align with our beliefs…to befriend those who proclaim the culture of death in its various forms under the guise of personal freedom.

It is time that we reach out to our “political enemies”…not to judge them and not to proselytize to them…but rather, just to be with them.  That doesn’t mean we need to affirm their beliefs.  It just means we should avoid actions or statements that may alienate them or push them further from the Truth.  It means to just be a friend.  Spend time with them, let them get to know us, let them discover that we are not the “evil people” the media and special interest groups try to convince them to believe, and ultimately we gain their trust.  

As we gain their trust and they begin to open up to us, we will have an opportunity to lead them to an authentic encounter with the Truth...we will have opportunity to lead them to an authentic encounter with the Love of Christ.  

Ironically, as it relates to this war between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death, Love is our weapon of mass destruction.

This battle isn't about secular politics.  This battle is a rescue mission to save souls for our King Jesus Christ and our Queen Mary.  We are the knights on battle field.  We are the special forces, if you will, that have been entrusted with this critical and delicate mission.  The time for action is now.  Carry on Christian soldier and spread the joy of the Gospel.

Why Mass? We need the Bread of Life! -- Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

The Paschal Mystery, which kicked off this great season of Easter, not only finished with the resurrection of our Blessed Lord, but also culminated in the consummation of the new covenant.  A covenant that Saint Stephen, and countless other martyrs throughout the age of the Church, have willingly sacrificed their lives in their personal response to what God initiated.

Throughout history, the establishment of a covenant required two things: an initiation by one party and a response by the other party.  God initiated a covenant with Adam, and Adam responded imperfectly.  God initiated a covenant with Noah, and Noah responded imperfectly.  God then initiated a covenant with Abraham, and Abraham also responded imperfectly.  God initiated a covenant with Moses, and Moses (as you can probably guess) responded imperfectly.  And, so one and so forth throughout the history of Israel in the Old Testament....until we get to the Last Supper.

At the Last Supper, in the context of the Jewish Passover, Jesus Christ through His divine nature initiated the new and everlasting covenant.  Then, on the cross, Jesus Christ through His human nature offered the perfect response.  On the cross, Jesus Christ drank from the fourth and final Passover cup (which is known as the Chalice of Hallel).  On the cross, Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself as the true Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.  On the cross, Jesus declared the consummation of the new covenant finished.

This transaction between initiation of and response to the new and everlasting covenant is the authentic context of Jesus's role as our one and true mediator with God.  Only Jesus Christ in His divinity could initiate an eternal covenant.  Only Jesus Christ in His humanity could offer a perfect response.

At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, to be our Passover Feast.  The Eucharist is the way Jesus desires us to worship Him.  But more than that:  The Eucharist is the mechanism Jesus gave us that allows us to substantially participate in His one-and-for-all sacrifice on Calvary.  The Eucharist is the mechanism Jesus gave us that allows us to efficaciously (effectively) participate in His perfect response to the new covenant.

This is why the Mass is so important.  Without our active participation in the Mass, our personal response to the new covenant is imperfect at best, and quite possibly not efficacious.  We need the Mass.  We need the Eucharist.  We need to drink from the chalice from which Jesus drank (namely, the Chalice of Hallel that is offered at every single Mass).  We need to eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood in order to have salvation and eternal life.  We need the Bread of Life!