Gospel LK 2:16-21 The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message  that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,  just as it had been told to them.

Reading 1 1 JN 1:5—2:2 Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, "We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

LK 2:1-14 the time came for Mary to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in wrapping clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shined around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for observe, I announce to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you:  you will find an infant bound in wrapping clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests."

Lk 1:46-56 Mary said: "My soul declares the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. for he has looked upon his humble servant. From this day all generations will call me consecrated: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their arrogance. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever."

LK 1:26-38 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found approval with God. Observe, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

Gospel LK 1:5-25 The angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was worried by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bring you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and happiness, and many will celebrate at his birth, for he will be unlimited in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord."

MT 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.  For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  All this took place to achieve what the Lord had said through the prophet:  Observe, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."  

MT  

11:16-19 Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare this generation?  It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a funeral song but you did not mourn.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is an overeater and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'  But wisdom is vindicated by her works." 

MT 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my heavy burdens upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

MK 1:1-8. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  John the Baptist appeared in the desert declaring a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to crouch down and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

MT 7:21, 24-27 Jesus said to his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.  "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a clever man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and battered the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.  And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and pounded the house.  And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

LK 10:21-24   Jesus celebrated in the Holy Spirit and said, "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the intelligent and the educated you have revealed them to the innocent.  Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.  All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."  Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." 

En route to Bethlehem and the birth of the savior.

 MT 8:5-11  When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."  He said to him, "I will come and cure him."  The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.  I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

MK 13:33-37 Jesus said to his disciples: "Be vigilant! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like someone traveling abroad. She leaves home and places her employees in charge, each with his or her own work, and orders the one in charge to be on the watch. Be careful, then; you do not know when the Owner of the house is coming home, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at sunrise, or in the morning. Hopefully she will not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Be attentive!'"

Gospel LK 21:34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: "Be careful that your hearts do not become tired from partying and drunkenness and the fears of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will attack everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be alert at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the problems that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

Back to my chaplaincy work at UMC in January. Needed 6 months of spinal therapy to make it happen. It is such a great ministry for a priest. I missed it so much. No salary. Just reaching out to God's people who need it the most.

The feast of Christ the KING, CHRISTO REY. THE true King in God’s sight feeds, provides clothing, shares water, visits the prisoner, attends to the sick, and does not take tax money from the poor to give to the rich.

MT 25:31-46    For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 

Gospel LK 17:11-19     As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of the ten lepers cleansed by Jesus  realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"  Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

LK 18:35-43       He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Gospel LK 18:1-8 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the compulsion for them to pray always without becoming exhausted.  He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.  And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'dictate a final decision for me against my opponent.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,  because this widow keeps bothering me I shall render a just decision for her for fear that she might come and assault me.'"  The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.  Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?  Will he be slow to answer them?  I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them promptly.  But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Gospel LK 17:1-6    Jesus said to his disciples, "Bad things that cause sin will unavoidably happen, but misery to the one through whom they occur.  It would be better for him if a deadweight were put around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, call him out; and if he asks for forgiveness, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him."  And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

l LK 16:9-15  Jesus said to his disciples: No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."  The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and mocked him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human approval is an abomination in the sight of God."

LK 14:12-14 On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have compensation. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; holy indeed will you be because of their helplessness to reimburse you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

11-5-2017  (CNN) At least 20 people have been killed in a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, according to Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt.  Among the dead is the 14-year-old daughter of the church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy, according to his wife, Sherri Pomeroy, the girl's mother. The couple were traveling out of state when the shooting occurred. Authorities say many more have been injured in the attack that has devastated the small Texas town described as a place where "everybody knows everybody.

Blessed Father, I pray for the souls of our loved ones taken too soon. Give the survivors STRENGTH to face another day, HOPE that their loved ones are comforted in God’s eternal presence.

.JN 6:37-40    Jesus said to the crowds: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day."

Gospel MT 5:1-12A When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for honesty, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

GospelLK 13:18-21

Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches."

Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened."

Gospel MT 22:34-40     When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"  He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

A note that Albert Einstein gave to a courier in Tokyo briefly describing his theory on happy living sold at auction in Jerusalem on Tuesday for $1.56 million (1.33 million euros), the auction house said.
The note, on Imperial Hotel Tokyo stationery, says in German that "a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest."

Gospel LK 12:8-12  Jesus said to his disciples:  "I tell you, everyone who recognizes me before others, the Son of Man will recognize before the angels of God. But whoever rejects me before others will be rejected before the angels of God.  "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who speaks in a way that shows irreverence for God against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.

Gospel LK 12:8-12  Jesus said to his disciples:  "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.  "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.

Galatians 2:19-20 

19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel LK 11:37-41       After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to eat at his home. He entered and sat down at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Really Pharisees? Although you wash the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with ill-gotten privilege and immorality. You are foolish! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give donations to the needy, and watch, everything will be clean for you.

LK 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
"Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed."
He replied, "Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.

Gospel LK 11:15-26     But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out spirits of evil and sin, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me wastes their time. 

LK 10:25-37    There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." 

Listening to Jesus’ thoughts, spirit, and words.  

LK 10:17-24  Jesus said, " Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."  Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Sacred are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." 

Gospel MT 21:33-43 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The boulder that the builders rejected has become the foundation; by the Lord has this been done, and it is brilliant in our eyes. Consequently, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its harvest."

Jesus’ lesson on transparency and honesty.

Gospel LK 8:16-18   Jesus said to the crowd: "No one who lights a lamp hides it under a container or puts it under a bed; rather, she places it on a nightstand so that those who arrive maybe guided by the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to the light.

LK 8:1-3         Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and announcing the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, the Twelve and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

MT 9:9-13    As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and study the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the honest but sinners." 

LK 2:33-35    Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Watch, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will penetrate so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed

Gospel JN 3:13-17   Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Gospel MT 18:15-20    Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you free on earth shall be freed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which you are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Gospel LK 6:1-5   While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a Sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?" Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

MT 1:18-23                      The angel of the Lord appeared and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

MT 16:21-27  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take MT 16:21-27  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  Or what can one give in exchange for his life?  For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct." 

Reading 1  1 THES 2:1-8      We were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, not as trying to please men, but rather God, who judges our hearts. Nor did we ever appear with flattering speech, or with a pretext for greed–God is witness– nor did we seek praise from men, either from you or from others, although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nurturing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.

MT 23:1-12          As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." 

MT 23:1-12          As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Gospel JN 1:45-51  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true child of Israel. There is no deceit in him." Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." 

I've begun to reflect whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It's become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the misguided impression that I am trying to hide something—something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even scared. This is distressing because it is simply not true. The fact is, I'm celibate as a priest, and I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.

On a life totally centered upon following Christ 24/7.

MT 19:16-22  A young man approached Jesus and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 

Gospel MT 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often must I forgive them? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. Each of you must forgive your brother and sister from your heart." When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Gospel LK 1:39-56 And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his humble servant. From this day all generations will call me consecrated: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has spread the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever." 

"...remembering Charlottesville..."

The Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

WhitSupremacists, AKA Ku Klux Klan, are terrorists and should be treated as such.

 MT 14:22-33  Jesus said, "Come on."  Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how strong the wind was he got scared; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, help me!"  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "Friend of weak faith, why did you doubt?"  After they got into the boat, the wind died down.  Those who were in the boat did him reverence, saying, "Honestly, you are the Son of God.

1 DT 6:4-13    Moses said to the people: "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. "When the LORD, your God, brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that he would give you, a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not harvest, with reservoirs that you did not dig, with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant; and when, therefore, take care not to forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. The LORD, your God, shall you fear; him shall you serve, and by his name shall you bless."

Gospel MT 15: 21-28 

The woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "Dear woman, boundless is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour. 

MT 14:22-36        Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "You of slight faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

ON THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

DN 7:9-10, 13-14        As I watched:  Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened and the books were opened.  As the visions during the night continued, I saw:  One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. 

Reading 2 2 PT 1:16-19   Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, "This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 

The words are from God Himself and are unequivocal.  They must be pondered and incorporated into our lives and spirituality and lived and given the total respect that they deserve.  As a priest my ministry must manifest and glorify God 24/7 since we are eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Gospel MT 17:1-9    Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transformed before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, witness, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell face down and were very afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.  As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

I celebrated my 6th anniversary as a Catholic priest in the American Catholic Church in the United States on June 12. Much of my spirituality is rooted in the life and teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, service to the most marginalized members of our communities. Most importantly, American Catholic Church in the United States proclaims the unconditional love and compassion of God, which embraces every human person regardless of their state or condition in life. We acknowledge the primacy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to speak in our day through the "sensus fidelium" ("sense of the faithful") of the Catholic Church, leading to a world of justice and peace.

1 EX 40:16-21, 34-38 
Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him. On the first day of the first month of the second year the Dwelling was erected. It was Moses who erected the Dwelling. He took the commandments and put them in the ark. He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil, thus screening off the ark of the commandments, as the LORD had commanded him. Then the cloud covered the meeting tent, and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.

MT 13:31-35  Jesus proposed a story to the crowds. "The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches."  He spoke to them another parable. "The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."  All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables,  to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:  I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world. 

MT 13:54-58  Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.