Trial and Temptation

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – WEEK II

CANTICLE OF MARY – Antiphon “Of what uses is it to a man to gain the whole world if he pays for it by losing his soul?”

¹⁶“Do not err, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” ~ James 1:16-17 King James Version (KJV)

FRIENDS WHO LIKE LISTENING FAITHFULLY COMMUNITY – POLL!

Proclaim my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus the salvation of the whole world, the lifting up of sinners to a new life without sin, and the crushed hearts of God’s children to be made whole! Remember that this life is temporary but our sin is everlasting without God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. Know that when we sin it is not just against those we have sinned against, but a greater sin has been transgressed against God the Father, Himself!

Reflection

I open with this today my brothers and sisters because great sin has been committed yet again within the Catholic Clergy in my lifetime! In not so many years from many protected by their power and position against the most innocent and vulnerable, our children have another horrifying sex scandal broken into public knowledge and met with public outrage and contempt – rightfully so! I can not tell you how upsetting and devastating this is as both a teacher within the Catholic School System and as a Catholic! I can not tell you how deeply troubling yet again the Catholic Church must be made to deal with sexual misconduct against children! I must reflect on how past lessons of 2002 – Los Angeles, have just not been learned nor heeded but rather hidden even deeper in darkness! Solely with the intent to cover up and not to care not one ounce for the victims! Logically speaking now we must say as a congregation that this sort of sexual abuse is not an isolated instance in time but rather continues to spread throughout every Archdiocese worldwide. On that note, I must also remind all of you, my brothers and sisters, that not every Priest or Deacon is guilty of such pervasive behavior and not every Clergyman is guilty of such sins. I also want to thank all the Priests who have written and who have stated flatly under no certain terms that this destructive conduct will not be allowed to continue within any branch or order of the Catholic Church! The power to stop this crime is in the Church Leadership to not just speak out but to bring these offenses to light and allow the Criminal Justice System to do its job! In this way, Social Justice will finally be practiced for all to see. In this way alone can the moral high ground of the Church be won back and truly be respected and revered.

In researching this week’s readings I came across something that Jesus had said which I feel is very apropos to this moment in time.

17 “Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible except that offenses will come. But woe to him through whom they come! ²It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he was thrown into the sea than to offend one of these little ones. ³Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him.” ~ Luke 17:1-3 Modern English Version (MEV)

Last week was about the tough truth of Jesus’s Divinity, as he proclaimed to the masses “I am the bread- living bread!” (John 6:48) The scripture tells us that many devout disciples of Christ could not understand this and turned and walked away to pick back up their secular lives. To this, I say to you my brothers and sisters do not follow anyone here on this earth who would turn their back on Christ! Do not trust with your immortal soul fallible people who exhibit sinful ways and would lead you away from God. Heed well what Jesus taught about the evils which come from within!

^{21 “}For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, ²²theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” ~ Mark 7:21-25 Modern English Version (MEV)

Likewise, my brothers and sisters know well that God the Father has given you His divine law by saying,

4 “So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ²You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you.” ~ Deuteronomy 4:1-8 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

The God Father with Angels AUTHOR Bernardino Luini DATE 1509 – 1510.

Conclusion

Do not just honor Christ with our lips (Mark 7:6), but rather honor Christ with our actions; be doers! (James 1:22). Turn from your sin and put down your anger or contempt for righteousness is not found there, (James 1:21). Instead, pick up your cross and follow Jesus the savior of all mankind! (Luke 9:23)

LET US PRAY

PRAYER OF CONTRITION AND RECONCILIATION

For all the victims of Sexual Misconduct within the Catholic Church, we all pray: (Month of September 2018)

Contrition:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Reconciliation

Come, Holy Spirit into my soul. Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess, and grant me, Your grace, to confess them fully, humbly and with a contrite heart. Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them again. O Blessed Virgin, Mother of my Redeemer, mirror of innocence and sanctity, and refuge of penitent sinners, intercede for me through the Passion of Your Son, that I may obtain the grace to make a good confession. All you blessed Angels and Saints of God, pray for me, a most miserable sinner, that I may henceforth be forever , with yours in eternal love. Amen

In Jesus’ Name and with the help of the Holy Spirit, Amen, Alleluia!

A Prayer of Repentance

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Psalm

51 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

³For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
⁴Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just ^[a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

⁵Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part, You will make me, know wisdom.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
⁹Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
¹³Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

¹⁴Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
¹⁵O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
¹⁶For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

¹⁸Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

NEED HELP OR ENCOURAGEMENT?

If you would like to receive ongoing encouragement, to help you stay focused, and/or need some guidance in where to look for motivational scriptures in the bible then feel free to email me at listeningfaithfullyblog@gmail.com with your request. Remember you’re never alone.

May the Lord bless you, protect you from all evil and bring you to everlasting life.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Pray for us. ~ Sancte Ioseph – ‘ora pro nobis,’

NOW GO SPREAD THE WORD!!

FRIENDS WHO LIKE LISTENING FAITHFULLY COMMUNITY

A Facebook Group. Everyone is welcome! Come and be part a of the discussion!

LISTENING FAITHFULLY PODCAST W/BROTHER BRIAN

Each podcast is focused on a specific reading based upon the Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth (3rd Edition) by Saint Mary’s Press. Listen, Learn, Share!

REAFFIRMING OUR MISSION

To Always Image Christ in Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul.

Help Support A Family In Need

Donate

LIVE STREAM

Saint Louis De Montford Catholic Chu rch

LIVE STREAM

7:30am – Mass
9:30am – Mass
11:30am – Mass
3pm – Mass (Spanish)
6pm – Mass

Special events outside the above schedule will also be streamed.

Be a part of spreading the word of God by giving what you can today.

“Let’s grow together as children of God”

Catholic Social Teaching

Special Post

LENTEN SEASON YR. B

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida

*Parents wait for news after a report of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)*

⁹Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’ – Genesis 4:9 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

As we come to a hollow anniversary during this Lenten Season marking the tragic passing of 17 high school students who were brutally murdered by a gunman – one of their peers – whose horrific act of senseless violence will forever call out to our nation that something indeed is wrong with our Gun Laws. However, my brothers and sisters as tragic as this mass shooting is there has risen a small ray of sunshine as the dust settles a little. This ray of sunshine I would like to direct everyone’s attention to is incredible considering the age group we are talking about. In their reaction of what they personally lived through – that no teenager, child, parent, or anyone should ever have to live through; have answered the question posed by Cain after he killed his brother Abel, “YES WE ARE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER!”

The high school students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida have gotten together to organize a movement with a very poignant message which rings clear and should shame those in Government who refuse to do anything to protect our youth, who refuse to be the adults in the room, and refuse to act like our Brother’s keeper. Thousands of young people in unison loudly and bravely declare – ‘We are going to be the last mass shooting!’ To the Federal Government, ‘You are either with us or against us!’ – Cameron Kasky – Junior Class, February 18, 2018. The movement that has started according to this young brave man is called March for Our Lives – Protest planned to occur is scheduled for March 24, 2018, in his own words, “My message for the people in office is: You’re either with us or against us. We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around.” Echoing this call to action is Emma Gonzalez, a senior who bravely publically announced, “Every single person up here today should be at home greaving but instead we are up here getting together because if all our government and president can do is send thoughts and prayers then its time for victims be the change we need to see.” Sat February 17, 2018. These students rightly blame the lax gun laws and chief among this issue is the National Rifle Association (NRA) for protecting profits rather than peoples lives. I urge all of you, my brothers and sisters – join this protest, support these students, show through your actions that you too are sick of the laws that protect money instead of human lives!

We can’t ignore the issues of gun control that this tragedy raises. And so, I’m asking — no, demanding — we take action now. – Cameron Kasky

Catholic Social Teaching in Action

Photo courtesy of Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS

For many of you who may not be Catholic but may have seen this title before as it relates to Catholic Social Teaching, I say to you it is a human issue, this is a personal, moral, even Godly issue! People of faith in every corner of the globe should be able to hold each other’s hands on this one! For we all have a duty to stand up and campaign for those weaker than us and those who cannot stand up for themselves! We as children of God cannot just turn a blind eye to this one, and out of the mouth of babes (Matthew 21:16) ‘We can’t ignore the issue of gun control that this tragedy raises.’ In good conscience the 17 students who lost their lives and all other students in every mass shooting in America and anywhere this violence has occurred we can not look away, rather we need to look this evil in the eye and do something about it! Part of the response should be to tax the HELL OUT OF GUNS! Tax them out of business – make owning a semi-automatic weapon illegal – go for the money – give it to the victims – educate, educate, educate – be a responsible citizens and vote out any lawmaker refusing to be on the right side of this movement – be our Brother’s keeper and protect all life here on planet earth! JUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE! FOR THE LORD, THY GOD IS WATCHING! ¹² ‘This land that the Lord your God looks after. The eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” – Deuteronomy 11:12 (NRSVA)

DONATE TODAY!

Teachers resources – Catholic Social Teaching

ST 101</a> | Life and Dignity of the Human Person" width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ABRl2ZSs58E?list=PLt5PsPjJAk-0b9BYRHUAxnlKMIv7qyZca" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen>

17 People Died In The Parkland Shooting. Here Are Their Names

Alyssa Alhadeff, 14 -student
Scott Beigel, 35 – Geography Teacher and the school’s Cross-Country Coach
Martin Duque Anguiano, 14 – student
Nicholas Dworet, 17 – student
Aaron Feis, 37 – graduated from Douglas High School in 1999 and had been an assistant football coach at the school since 2002, the Sun-Sentinel reported. He had worked as a security guard at the school for at least eight years.
Jamie Guttenberg, 14 – student
Chris Hixon, 49 – was fatally injured after he raced to the scene of the shooting to try to help students, the school’s head football coach told NPR.
Luke Hoyer, 15 – student
Cara Loughran, 14, student
Gina Montalto, 14 – student
Joaquin Oliver, 17 – student
Alaina Petty, 14 – student
Meadow Pollack, 18 – student
Helena Ramsay, 17 – student
Alex Schachter, 14 – student
Carmen Schentrup, 16 – student
Peter Wang, 15 – student

Prayer for Life and Dignity

‘Eternal God, creator, and sustainer of life, bless us with the courage to defend all life from conception to natural death. Bless us with the strength to respect all peoples from east to west, from north to south, so that we may truly follow the call of Jesus to be neighbor. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit.

– (From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice, USCCB, April 1998)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

May the Lord bless you, protect you from all evil and bring you to everlasting life.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Pray for us. ~ Sancte Ioseph – ‘ora pro nobis,’

Amen, Alleluia

Now go spread the word!

Reaffirming Our Mission

To Always Image Christ in Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul.

The form is not published.

“Let’s grow together as children of God”