Forgiveness is a wonderful, mysterious gift from our God. It was so important to Him, to have a relationship with us, that He sent His only Son to save us from our own sin. Jesus was not only fully divine but He was also fully human. So, the suffering He endured was excruciating and His death horrifying. But, He chose yes, to do this for us – for our salvation. FORGIVENESS.
Even though it is a free gift from God, we have to sincerely want this gift, forgiveness. Not a half hearted, “Sorry God, I messed up but You knew I would anyway. I’ll try to do better if I can.” Words alone are not enough to be forgiven. One must have a sincere and contrite heart in order for the words to mean anything and for us to receive the gift of forgiveness. To quote Yoda from Star Wars, “Do or do not. There is no try”. Does this mean we will not commit this sin again? Maybe and maybe not. The important thing is the desire not to commit the sin and not to just try!
But being Catholic is great. It’s like experiencing Christmas morning every time we go to confession with our parish priest. We receive the gift of forgiveness. As long as we have a sorrowful and contrite heart, all is forgiven by our Father in Heaven through Jesus Christ who is represented by the priest in sacrament of reconciliation.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation not only brings us forgiveness but it covers us, like a warm blanket, with powerful grace from our God. By receiving grace in the sacraments we strengthen our faith, our bond with God. It is one of the spiritual exercises we must do in order to prepare us for the greatest challenge of all, life beyond this material world.
So - my brothers and sisters, and my spiritual children build those spiritual muscles. Receive the sacraments often, including confession, and strengthen your relationship with God. Remember, pray, pray, pray…
LET GO, LET GOD
Be God’s forever+
Deacon Rob Starr
Monday, August 4, 2008
Change
The theme at the Jr. High Rally was about “CHANGE”. I was quite inspired by the conference. Fr. Andrew Trapp use Spiderman in his homily and it was impressive. He explained how change starts little but can grow into something great. The following is some of his homily:
Peter Parker was a shy science geek not respected by his classmates. But once the SMALL radioactive spider bit him it caused a CHANGE in his life. HE went from being nobody, to a super hero. The CHANGE was caused by a SMALL spider that launched him into his role of helping mankind in its struggles against evil. SMALL CHANGE can grow into great things for good. He now had a responsibility to the world to good. Yes I know this is a fictional story but it explains what can happen to all of us. (Fr. Andrew’s Homily)
We are not all called to save the world but we are called to help each other, even strangers, and do good in the world. Well Deacon Rob how can we young people do such things, we are only teenagers??? The answer in is simple. Let the change grow inside of you. It is like an ember glowing in your heart and soul. When you go to Mass and welcome Jesus into you via the Holy Eucharist, a small physical host with a BIG Holy punch, the true presence of Jesus – the Holy Spirit blows through your heart and soul igniting that ember into a small flame. So each time you receive the sacraments the Holy Spirit moves more and the flame grows and grows and grows. All you have to do is recognize the CHANGE and ACT on it.
Be leaders and SUPER HEROS my spiritual children. Stand out in the crowd, set the example, be the CHANGE. As my Super Hero, the Great JPII always quoted,” Do not be afraid!” You will find this phrase all through the bible about 300 times.
Mathew 14:27 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Changes start small but become great as long as they are for GOOD. Be holy and follow the example of Jesus in the Gospels.
John 13:2-15
So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed 6 has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
May the Lord bless you all in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit +
Be God’s forever+
Deacon Rob
Peter Parker was a shy science geek not respected by his classmates. But once the SMALL radioactive spider bit him it caused a CHANGE in his life. HE went from being nobody, to a super hero. The CHANGE was caused by a SMALL spider that launched him into his role of helping mankind in its struggles against evil. SMALL CHANGE can grow into great things for good. He now had a responsibility to the world to good. Yes I know this is a fictional story but it explains what can happen to all of us. (Fr. Andrew’s Homily)
We are not all called to save the world but we are called to help each other, even strangers, and do good in the world. Well Deacon Rob how can we young people do such things, we are only teenagers??? The answer in is simple. Let the change grow inside of you. It is like an ember glowing in your heart and soul. When you go to Mass and welcome Jesus into you via the Holy Eucharist, a small physical host with a BIG Holy punch, the true presence of Jesus – the Holy Spirit blows through your heart and soul igniting that ember into a small flame. So each time you receive the sacraments the Holy Spirit moves more and the flame grows and grows and grows. All you have to do is recognize the CHANGE and ACT on it.
Be leaders and SUPER HEROS my spiritual children. Stand out in the crowd, set the example, be the CHANGE. As my Super Hero, the Great JPII always quoted,” Do not be afraid!” You will find this phrase all through the bible about 300 times.
Mathew 14:27 - But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Changes start small but become great as long as they are for GOOD. Be holy and follow the example of Jesus in the Gospels.
John 13:2-15
So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed 6 has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
May the Lord bless you all in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit +
Be God’s forever+
Deacon Rob
"Who Loves You Baby?" Homily - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2008
+ “Who loves you, baby?” trivia question for the day. What character from a seventy’s TV series used this catch phrase? Kojak.
+ Kojak was this great police detective in NY City who could solve any problem and every crime. So let’s put on our Kojak hats and ask this question again – “Who Loves You, Baby?”
+ First we have to evaluate the facts and the evidence.
+ We will start with today’s Gospel, our witness testimony. What is Jesus telling us?
+ Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field and out of JOY sells everything he has to purchase the field.
+ He then uses the parable of a great pearl and a person sells everything just purchase it.
+ He uses another story of the net thrown into the sea which collects fish of all kinds. The fisherman pulls the full net ashore, both good and bad, and then sorts them out - tossing out the bad.
+ Lastly, Jesus says, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven - is like the head of the household - who brings both the new and the old from the store room.”
+ So, what does all this mean? Put on your detective hats now… and check it out!
+ The answer is obvious – God Loves Us! HE loves us so much that Jesus gives a preview of what’s to come.
+ Stay with me here – Jesus loves us so much that He gives everything up, His own life, to purchase us for God. The price is paid with His horrific suffering, His blood, and His death.
+ WE are the treasure, the pearl, the fish… That he tells us about in the parables.
+ And like good detectives we have the hard evidence of His suffering, death, and resurrection to back our conclusion.
+ HE LOVES US THIS MUCH +. Msgr. Duffy used this symbol many times in his homilies - and I always looked at it as a loving hug from God. Wow, the symbol of torture and death, the cross, has become the symbol of love and forgiveness – only our God could make such a miraculous transformation.
+ “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16
+ Now let’s take this a few steps further and apply this to our own lives.
+ Is God asking us to sell everything we own? House, car, clothes… I think it’s a bit deeper than that.
+ God wants us to shed what the world tells us and live by His ways, love Him, and to love each other.
+ The world teaches us that WE are all that matters – that getting the STUFF we want is all that matters – which WE are the center of the universe. As long as I get mine - life is good. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt along the way – as long as my goal is achieved its goooood. I have even witnessed this idea in situations where people think if it is for the greater good then the lesser can suffer. Not the message of Christ!
+ We are called to let go of the ways of the world, - “selling” our worldliness and selfishness - and follow God’s way, buying the treasure. We need to turn away from the ways of the world but not withdraw from it.
+ Some of us think that if we shelter ourselves from the world and what it teaches - we will be better off. Kind of a selfish idea. We are called to live by the way of God IN the world so that we may help CHANGE the world and turn it back to God. This is being truly Catholic!
+ We are not isolationists, we are a communal people. St. Francis said,”The WORLD is my cloister!” Do you know what a cloister is? (Explain!)
+ We are called to live IN the world seeing through the eyes of our Lord and present Him by being an example to all we meet. St. Francis said it best, “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.”
+ Let us pray: Jesus, in the midst of an intense increase of wickedness in the cultures of the world causing the real meaning and practice of love to be confused and grow cold, make us burn with a raging blaze of love in who I am and through what I do, that I might be pleasing to You and a blessing to all. Thank you Jesus and bless us all. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit + Amen.
(Prayer is from Fr. Stan Fortuna’s book “U Got 2 Pray”)
+ Kojak was this great police detective in NY City who could solve any problem and every crime. So let’s put on our Kojak hats and ask this question again – “Who Loves You, Baby?”
+ First we have to evaluate the facts and the evidence.
+ We will start with today’s Gospel, our witness testimony. What is Jesus telling us?
+ Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field and out of JOY sells everything he has to purchase the field.
+ He then uses the parable of a great pearl and a person sells everything just purchase it.
+ He uses another story of the net thrown into the sea which collects fish of all kinds. The fisherman pulls the full net ashore, both good and bad, and then sorts them out - tossing out the bad.
+ Lastly, Jesus says, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven - is like the head of the household - who brings both the new and the old from the store room.”
+ So, what does all this mean? Put on your detective hats now… and check it out!
+ The answer is obvious – God Loves Us! HE loves us so much that Jesus gives a preview of what’s to come.
+ Stay with me here – Jesus loves us so much that He gives everything up, His own life, to purchase us for God. The price is paid with His horrific suffering, His blood, and His death.
+ WE are the treasure, the pearl, the fish… That he tells us about in the parables.
+ And like good detectives we have the hard evidence of His suffering, death, and resurrection to back our conclusion.
+ HE LOVES US THIS MUCH +. Msgr. Duffy used this symbol many times in his homilies - and I always looked at it as a loving hug from God. Wow, the symbol of torture and death, the cross, has become the symbol of love and forgiveness – only our God could make such a miraculous transformation.
+ “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16
+ Now let’s take this a few steps further and apply this to our own lives.
+ Is God asking us to sell everything we own? House, car, clothes… I think it’s a bit deeper than that.
+ God wants us to shed what the world tells us and live by His ways, love Him, and to love each other.
+ The world teaches us that WE are all that matters – that getting the STUFF we want is all that matters – which WE are the center of the universe. As long as I get mine - life is good. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt along the way – as long as my goal is achieved its goooood. I have even witnessed this idea in situations where people think if it is for the greater good then the lesser can suffer. Not the message of Christ!
+ We are called to let go of the ways of the world, - “selling” our worldliness and selfishness - and follow God’s way, buying the treasure. We need to turn away from the ways of the world but not withdraw from it.
+ Some of us think that if we shelter ourselves from the world and what it teaches - we will be better off. Kind of a selfish idea. We are called to live by the way of God IN the world so that we may help CHANGE the world and turn it back to God. This is being truly Catholic!
+ We are not isolationists, we are a communal people. St. Francis said,”The WORLD is my cloister!” Do you know what a cloister is? (Explain!)
+ We are called to live IN the world seeing through the eyes of our Lord and present Him by being an example to all we meet. St. Francis said it best, “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.”
+ Let us pray: Jesus, in the midst of an intense increase of wickedness in the cultures of the world causing the real meaning and practice of love to be confused and grow cold, make us burn with a raging blaze of love in who I am and through what I do, that I might be pleasing to You and a blessing to all. Thank you Jesus and bless us all. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit + Amen.
(Prayer is from Fr. Stan Fortuna’s book “U Got 2 Pray”)
Nails+
My wife, Susan, and I were at Disney World in Orlando, Florida on her birthday. So, I decided to go with her to the nail salon and get a manicure while she had her nails done. It was a way to share in something she enjoys on her special day.
I sat down at the counter and nervously placed one hand in a bowl of warm water. Looking across the counter at me was a pleasant looking lady who asked, “Is this your first time?” I sheepishly replied, “It’s that obvious, huh?” She just smiled and told me to relax.
My wife was thrilled that I was sharing this experience with her. She kept looking over at me with this loving smile as she watched me getting a manicure. I still was not sure about this but it sure did feel pretty nice.
I had an epiphany! Nails … Togetherness … Love … Family … Sacrifice … Eucharist – Wow, all these things came together with nails, the nails of the Cross! Ok, check it out – Jesus, the perfect victim and sacrifice, gave His life for our salvation. He allowed Himself to be NAILED to the cross, completely bonded to this horrific instrument of torture and death, because He loves us that much.
The nails of His crucifixion are the bond that holds us together with Him as a one family with God, Abba. Through His salvific act, an act of great love, we are bonded together in faith. The faith that we have a share in His divinity, a share in heaven with our Father or as Jesus says, “Abba”, which actually translates more closely to Daddy – a more personal term of endearment. Jesus bridged the gap between us and our “Dad” in heaven by the cross.
As well as being bonded with Christ, through the nails of the cross, Jesus comes to us in a very real way everyday at Mass. HE comes to us spiritually and physically as enter into communion with Him during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the climax of the Mass.
Jesus doesn’t care who we are, where we are in our lives, whether we are rich or poor, what color our skin is, young or old, clergy or layperson, all He cares about is that we are living according His will and coming to Him with an open and contrite heart. He wants to meet us all face to face at the altar. How awesome is that! Our God, our Creator, our Redeemer, manifests Himself physically at every Mass and touches us in a real way.
Think about it, we touch Christ and experience Heaven on earth at every Mass. It’s a mystery that boggles the mind but a wonderful mystery it is.
All this because Jesus came to earth as a man, lifting our nature up to share in His divinity as He humbled Himself to share in our humanity, only to be nailed to the cross for our salvation. Now that is love.
So when you married folk and those who intend to be married folk share an experience together, like getting your nails down, think about how this wonderful Sacrament of Marriage fills us with grace and blessings every minute because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the nails that bind us together in one faith as one family.
Be God’s forever+
I sat down at the counter and nervously placed one hand in a bowl of warm water. Looking across the counter at me was a pleasant looking lady who asked, “Is this your first time?” I sheepishly replied, “It’s that obvious, huh?” She just smiled and told me to relax.
My wife was thrilled that I was sharing this experience with her. She kept looking over at me with this loving smile as she watched me getting a manicure. I still was not sure about this but it sure did feel pretty nice.
I had an epiphany! Nails … Togetherness … Love … Family … Sacrifice … Eucharist – Wow, all these things came together with nails, the nails of the Cross! Ok, check it out – Jesus, the perfect victim and sacrifice, gave His life for our salvation. He allowed Himself to be NAILED to the cross, completely bonded to this horrific instrument of torture and death, because He loves us that much.
The nails of His crucifixion are the bond that holds us together with Him as a one family with God, Abba. Through His salvific act, an act of great love, we are bonded together in faith. The faith that we have a share in His divinity, a share in heaven with our Father or as Jesus says, “Abba”, which actually translates more closely to Daddy – a more personal term of endearment. Jesus bridged the gap between us and our “Dad” in heaven by the cross.
As well as being bonded with Christ, through the nails of the cross, Jesus comes to us in a very real way everyday at Mass. HE comes to us spiritually and physically as enter into communion with Him during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the climax of the Mass.
Jesus doesn’t care who we are, where we are in our lives, whether we are rich or poor, what color our skin is, young or old, clergy or layperson, all He cares about is that we are living according His will and coming to Him with an open and contrite heart. He wants to meet us all face to face at the altar. How awesome is that! Our God, our Creator, our Redeemer, manifests Himself physically at every Mass and touches us in a real way.
Think about it, we touch Christ and experience Heaven on earth at every Mass. It’s a mystery that boggles the mind but a wonderful mystery it is.
All this because Jesus came to earth as a man, lifting our nature up to share in His divinity as He humbled Himself to share in our humanity, only to be nailed to the cross for our salvation. Now that is love.
So when you married folk and those who intend to be married folk share an experience together, like getting your nails down, think about how this wonderful Sacrament of Marriage fills us with grace and blessings every minute because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the nails that bind us together in one faith as one family.
Be God’s forever+
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