Wicked Ambitions

"What causes these fights and quarrels among you?  Is it not your cravings that make war within your own selves?  When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight.  The fact is, you do not have what you want because you do not pray for it.  You pray for something and you do not get it because you pray with the wrong motive of indulging your pleasures.  You  adulterers!  Don't you know that making friends with world makes you enemies of GOD?  Therefore, whoever chooses to be the world's friend becomes GOD's enemy.

Can you not see the point of the saying in Scripture: 'The longing of the spirit HE sent to dwell in us is a jealous longing?  But GOD has something better to give, and Scripture also says, GOD opposes the proud but HE gives favor to the humble. Give in, then, to GOD; resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw close to GOD and HE will come close to you.  Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters.  Recognize your distress, be miserable and weep.  Turn your laughter into tears and your joy into sadness.  Humble yourselves before the LORD and HE will raise you up." - James 4:1-10

(You pray with the wrong motive.  James tells us that prayer obtains for us things that enable us to respond to GOD's plan.  Our prayers will not be heard if love for the world takes place of GOD in our hearts. 

What is the friendship with the world that prevents our being heard?  GOD asks us to love all the things HE created, viewing them as means of reaching HIM, and to reject what does not serve this purpose.  Loving the world is wishing for and clinging to things, without beyond them for GOD HIMSELF and the brothers and sisters that HE gave us.  It is adultery in the same sense as the phrase from the Gospel: "No one can serve two masters" [Matthew 6:24].  We cannot divide our love between GOD and the world; neither can we ask GOD to help us satisfy egotistical ambitions.)

On-Site

The Mother Of The Believers

"Near the cross of JESUS stood HIS mother, HIS mother's sister Mary, who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of Magdala.  When JESUS saw the Mother, and the disciple whom HE loved, HE said to the Mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'  Then HE said to the disciple, 'There is your mother.'  And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home." - John 19:25-27  

 

(At the moment of Man's fall, Eve was with Adam.  Now, at the moment of restoration, that is, the second creation, another woman is with the Son of Man (the Human One), the second Adam.  Mary has neither spouse nor son who can receive her and, for the Jews, a woman who remains alone would be considered cursed.  JESUS entrusts Mary to John and, also, John to Mary.  John testifies having heard both phrases.  Notice that he writes:  JESUS said to the Mother, and not, to HIS mother.  This is a new symbolic gesture of JESUS.  Mary will be the Mother of believers.

 

Through this last deed of JESUS, the Church discovered something about the mystery of the Christian life.  The believer is a member of a spiritual family.  As a child needs a father and a mother to grow normally so, too, does the believer need Mary and the heavenly FATHER.  This is an unchanging doctrine of the Church, which in no way attempts to make the creature equal with the Creator.

 

Not without reason has GOD given us a mother; if it is a misfortune for a child not to have known a mother, it is also a misfortune for a believer when his religion only expresses itself in masculine terms.  The believer who welcomes Mary to his home as did John is neither a fanatic nor a quibbler regarding faith.  There exists a form of humility, joy, interior peace and simple piety characteristic of those Catholics who have known how to open their doors to Mary without throwing out their Savior.)

On-Site

True Freedom

"You, brothers and sisters, were called to enjoy freedom; I am not speaking of that freedom which gives free rein to the desires of the flesh, but of that which makes you slaves of one another through love.  For the whole Law is summed up in this sentence: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  But if you bite and tear each other to pieces, be careful lest you all perish.

Therefore, I say to you: walk according to the Spirit and do not give way to the desires of the flesh!  For the desires of the flesh war against the spirit, and the desires of the spirit are opposed to the flesh.  Both are in conflict with each other, so that you cannot do everything you would like.  But when you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law.

You know what comes from the flesh, fornication, impurity and shamelessness, idol worship and sorcery, hatred, jealousy and violence, anger, ambition, division, factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like.  I again say to you what I have already said: those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD.

But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control.  For such things there is no Law or punishment.  Those who belong to CHRIST have crucified the flesh with its vices and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us live in a spiritual way.  Let us not be conceited; let there be no rivalry or envy of one another." - Galatians 5:13-26 

(If the Galatians are looking out for religious practices it is partly because they feel that faith should be expressed in a concrete way.  Here Paul tells them: if you are anxious for putting faith into life, look at your community life.  We, like them, are terribly accustomed to a double life: on one hand we proclaim 

Paul rightly gives a short list of the works of the flesh and another of the fruits of the Spirit.  He places side by side idolatry and the ambitions or divisions so common in religious and practicing groups.  It is clear that for him flesh and spirit are not the same as "body" and "soul": the pettiness and attachment to our privileges are also sins of the flesh, that is of people alien to the Spirit.)

On-Site

A Prediction Of The Different Fates That Will Be Peter's And John's

"Peter looked back and saw that the disciple JESUS loved was following as well, the one who had reclined close to JESUS at the supper, and had asked HIM, 'LORD, who is to betray YOU?'  On seeing him, Peter asked JESUS, 'LORD, what about him?'  JESUS answered, 'If I want him to remain until I come, is that any concern of yours?  Follow ME!'

Because of this, the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die.  Yet JESUS did not say to Peter, 'He will not die,' but 'Suppose I want him to remain until I come back, what concern is that of yours?'

It is this disciple who testifies about the things and has written these things down, and we know that his testimony is true.  But JESUS did many other things; if all were written down, I think the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." - John 21:20-25 

(The Gospel ends with a prediction of the different fates that will be Peter's and John's.  Peter died a martyr's death in Rome in the year 66 or 67 A.D.; John was still living in the year 90 A.D.  He was the last of the witnesses of CHRIST and many thought he would not die until the LORD would come again: hence, the Gospel insists that JESUS had not made such a promise.

The last paragraph was placed there by those associated with John at the time of his death.)

On-Site    

The Trial Before Festus

"Some days later King Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrived in Caesarea to greet Festus.  As they were to stay there several days, Festus told the king about Paul's case and said to him,

'We have here a man whom Felix left as a prisoner.  When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews accused him and asked me to sentence him.  I told them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man without giving him an opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers.  So, they came, and I took my seat without delay on the tribunal and sent for the man.

When the accusers had the floor, they did not accuse him of any of the crimes that I was led to think he had committed; instead, they quarreled with him about religion and about a certain JESUS who has died but whom Paul asserted to be alive.  I did not know what to do about this case, so I asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem to be tried there.  But Paul appealed to be judged by the emperor.  So, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar'." - Acts 25:13-21  

(Due process.   It is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man without giving him an opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers.)

On-Site

Ecumenism

"I pray not only for these, but also for those who through their word will believe in ME.  May they all be one, as YOU FATHER are in ME and I AM in YOU.  May they be one in US, so that the world may believe that you have sent ME.

I have given them the glory YOU have given ME, that they may be one as WE are one: I in them and YOU in ME.  Thus, they shall reach perfection in unity; and the world shall know that YOU have sent ME, and that I have loved them, just as YOU loved ME.

FATHER, since YOU have given them to ME, I want them to be with ME where I AM, and see the glory YOU gave ME, for YOU loved ME before the foundation of the world.

Righteous FATHER, the world has not known YOU, but I have known YOU, and these have known that YOU have sent ME.  As I revealed YOUR name to them, so will I continue to reveal it, so that the love with which YOU loved ME may be in them, and I also may be in them." - John 17:20-26  

(In our times, we have a better understanding of these past difficulties.  Many Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants are attempting to unite as believers.  At the same time, however, new problems have arisen within each Church.  Today Christians disagree and are split, not only in their political options, but also in their understanding of CHRIST and their views on how HIS message is best delivered in our time.

Ecumenism, that is, efforts to reconcile in truth and bring the Churches together, demands that we overcome the new dissensions that threaten the internal unity of the Church.  All of us must work so that the unity of all Christians may be realized as CHRIST desires, and by the means HE wants.  In any case, nothing can be done without obeying the truth and doing the truth.  In no way can we disregard Peter's charism of unity that is granted to Peter's successors.)

On-Site

The Journey Of GOD's People: Triumphant Hymn Of Thanks

 "Arise, O GOD, scatter YOUR enemies; let YOUR foes flee before YOU.

As smoke is blown by the wind, so blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before YOU.

But let the righteous be glad and exult before GOD; 

let them sing to GOD and shout for joy.

Sing to GOD, sing praises to HIS name; open the way, to HIM who rides upon the clouds; YAHWEH is HIS name.  Rejoice in HIS presence.

FATHER of orphans and protector of widows--such is our GOD in HIS holy dwelling.

HE gives shelter to the homeless, sets the prisoners free; but keeps the rebels in their jail."

- Psalm 68:2-3. 4-5. 6-7

(This is the most picturesque--and obscure--of all the psalms.  In the liturgy, it particularly celebrates the Ascension of CHRIST.  And no wonder: it is a hymn fit for the climax victory of GOD, fighting for HIS people and there is a wild joy, running through it.  GOD rides on the clouds but marches across the desert too.  HE feeds HIS starving people.  HE takes willing captives with HIM to HIS holy place on the hill; HIS might is in the skies.  In the same way, the Son of Man whose chariot was a cloud [Daniel 7:13, cf. Matthew 26:64] went on foot through the wilderness and fed HIS people there [John 6].  When HE ascended, HE took a host of 'captives' with HIM [Ephesians 4:8], and HIS power is felt from heaven, where HE is seated at the FATHER's right hand.

This psalm is adequate to celebrate our liberation, as we journey toward the Promised Land.) 

On-Site 

Matthias Elected

"It was during this time that Peter stood up in the midst of the community - about one hundred and twenty in all - and he said, 'Brothers, it was necessary that the Scriptures referring to Judas be fulfilled.  The Holy Spirit had spoken through David about the one who would lead the crowd coming to arrest JESUS.  He was one of our number and had been called to share our common ministry.

(We know that he bought a filed with the reward of his sin; yet he threw himself headlong to his death, his body burst open, and all his bowels spilled out.  This event became known to all the people living in Jerusalem and they named that field Akeldama in their own language, which means Field of Blood).

In the book of Psalms, it is written: Let his house become deserted and may no one live in it.  But it is also written: May another take his office.  Therefore, we must choose someone from among those who were with us during all the time that the LORD JESUS moved about with us, beginning with John's baptism until the day when JESUS was taken away from us.  One of these has to become, with us, a witness to HIS resurrection.'

Then they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias.  They prayed: 'YOU know, LORD, what is in the hearts of all.  Show us, therefore, which of the two YOU have chosen to replace Judas in this apostolic ministry which he deserted to go to the place he deserved.'

Then they drew lots between the two and the choice fell on Matthias who was added to the eleven apostles. - Acts 1:15-26  

(Peter is acting here as head of the primitive Church.  The death of Judas has left a vacancy in the "college of apostles" whose twelve members bring to mind the twelve sons of Jacob.  Just as the Israel of old never accepted being deprived of one or many of its tribes, so too, Peter, will not permit the group of the Twelve to have one of its members amputated.

Peter will find a way to allow GOD to make known HIS choice.  We may be surprised today that such an important decision could have been made by casting lots.  Is this not a sort of washing one's hands of the decision-making process?  We must not forget that this episode is happening in a community whose religious culture welcomes signs from GOD.  They know the qualities they would want to see in the candidates and two are eligible.  Now the question is which one to choose?  They pray to GOD to make HIS decision known and promise to accept the outcome.  This election process, not excluding those used by the cardinals in conclave, where the real challenges to the Church have often been compromised by the dishonest voting of interested parties?

It is good to focus in this passage on the conditions which Peter laid down: To have followed JESUS from John's baptism until the day when HE was taken from us.  The Good News begins with the preaching of John and culminates with the ascension [Acts 13:14-31].  In this way Mark's is the typical gospel, Matthew and Luke have both added an introduction, the infancy narratives, while John makes use of a prologue to act as a kind of preface.  For each of the evangelists, it is the resurrection accounts that dominate their gospels and give them meaning.

Like on so many occasions in the Old Testament [Jacob, Samuel, David...] GOD again chooses the second and possibly even the simpler person: let us examine the "calling card" of the first: Joseph named Barsabbas, also known as Justus, while it is Matthias, without any other name or nickname, who is chosen by GOD.)

On-Site

They Were Baptized In The Name Of The LORD JESUS.

"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus.  There he found some disciples whom he asked, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?'  They answered, 'We have not even heard that anyone may receive the Holy Spirit.'  Paul then asked, 'What kind of baptism have you received?'  And they answered, 'The baptism of John.'

Paul then explained, 'John's baptism was for conversion, but he himself said they should believe in the one who was to come, and that one is JESUS.'  Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS.  Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came down upon them; and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.  There were about twelve of them in all.

Paul went into the synagogue and for three months he preached and discussed there boldly, trying to convince them about the Kingdom of GOD." - Acts 19:1-8  

(For three years, Paul wanted to evangelize Ephesus.  Ephesus was one of the most beautiful and largest cities in the empire.

Luke wanted to relate the baptism of these twelve disciples of John the Baptist. As we have just said they knew something of JESUS' teaching, but as for being his disciples, they lacked what was most important: they had not received the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came down upon them.  We must not forget that in the beginning, the Christian language was limited.  We know that the Holy Spirit is much more than the manifestations that follow the laying on of hands.  So, we have such statements as: we have not heard that there is the Holy Spirit, while other texts state: that the Holy Spirit be received.  The laying on of hands is meant to confirm the change worked at baptism through the experience of the gifts of the Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:7].  Many Christians would be surprised today if they have never had this tangible experience of GOD.  Let us not say that these gifts are no longer useful or that such things do not happen today.  What is important, surely, is to believe and live one's faith rather than to feel it.  Such an experience, however, is often the shock that gives rise to a re-blossoming of our faith: it shows us that GOD is near, and HE is master of our inner self.   Perhaps our rationalist temperament and our Church life, mistrustful of all that is a personal expression, serves as a dampener of the gifts of the Spirit; perhaps it is rather the poverty of our commitment to JESUS.

They were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS.  Are we to presume that in the beginning baptism was in the name of JESUS and not in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT?  It is not certain.

In the name of signifies by the power of; maybe the baptism in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the Holy Spirit was called the baptism in the name of JESUS to distinguish it from the baptism of John and the baptisms of other religions.  It is also possible that at the moment of receiving the water in the name of the Holy Trinity, the person baptized had to make a personal invocation in the Name of JESUS.  Possibly also in early times, baptism was given "in the Name of JESUS" and later the Church modified the formula in order to distinguish itself from groups that believed in JESUS but without recognizing HIM as Son of GOD, born of the FATHER.  There would be nothing to astonish us in such a change: the Church of the apostles had given the first formula; the same Church gave the second formula attributed to JESUS in Matthew 28:19.)

On-Site

Proclaim The Good News To All Creation

"Then HE told them, 'Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.  The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned.  Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in MY name they will cast out demons and speak new languages; they will pick up snakes, and if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.'

So then, after speaking to them, the LORD JESUS was taken up into heaven and took HIS place at the right hand of GOD.  The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while the LORD worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it." - Mark 16:15-20  

(The Good News is the seed that will be planted in the world and will flourish, in its proper time, in every field of human endeavor.  Salvation is not a matter of saving isolated souls or individual beings.  The Gospel is to be proclaimed to all creation in all activities and acts of those who have been renewed by baptism.  They are to be the yeast that transforms human history.)

On-Site