Mt 5:17-19 Teach me, O God!

I had an interesting experience with a man recently who assured me that I didn't need to follow what the Church teaches or understand fully who we receive in the Blessed Eucharist, as long as I believe in Jesus: that trough His Divine Mercy I shall be saved.    He apparently has been telling others who have no religious affiliation this same message and encouraging them to come to mass and receive the Eucharist.  It made me unsure of myself and wonder if the Church had changed part of what it teaches.  What to do in a situation like this?  I sought a priest.  It is what we ought to do in situations like this unless we are sure of ourselves. 

Today's readings, both the first reading, which is about Elijah showing the people that God is Lord of all; that the pagan god Baal was nothing; and the blessing of the stones representing  the people of the twelve tribes whom he called Israel as part of his altar in order to reconsecrate them to God, and the Gospel reading, we visualize very clearly how God choses particular anointed ones to speak to and lead the people to Truth. In the first reading it was Elijah, and in the Gospel it is Jesus.  We are not all prophets, and when we speak, we ought to be careful if we are instructing. 

Jesus said, "I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law..."  We must be careful when we teach and know what it is our Church teaches.  Our priests study so long to be good servants of God so they can serve us in this regard.  Our Deacon and catechists likewise are trained and continue their own educations in our shared faith order to teach it. 

It is good for all of us to read about our faith, to discern it, and share it.  Together we are the Body of Christ.  Together we teach each other and keep each other faithful.  May we always have the courage to seek out those who have been appointed when we have questions about our faith so that we may continue to grow and be challenged in it, growing ever closer to our Father.  Amen.

Mark 9:14-29 The Power of Prayer

In today's Gospel Jesus teaches us three very important things:

1) Evil is real.

2) Prayer is important.

3) Prayer overcomes evil. 

Evil is not cut and dry.  It permeates everything, is sweet and seductive.  We are overcome with it in ways that we can't believe by the time that we notice we have fallen into its trap.  Prayer is the solution.  In prayer we place God before all things.  We praise and glorify God.  We ask to be protected by evil.

It is not easy to pray.  That is one of the tricks of evil, to make it difficult.  In those times what a Godsend that we have the Lord's Prayer and others to help us through those dry times where prayer doesn't come easily.  I have a friend who I think must struggle with prayer because every time he goes somewhere in the car, he prayers a Hail Mary.  Group prayers such as the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are another way to combat fatigue in prayer as well as to encourage and strengthen. 

Prayer overcomes evil.  Each of us are victim to that internal struggle of good versus evil.  God is helping us win.

John 6:16-21

Sometimes we encounter great storms in our lives:  running late, missing the bus, being fired, death of a spouse or parent or child.  Perhaps we get so caught-up in that storm that we see nothing else.  Even in that, as today's Gospel reminds us, Jesus comes to us.  He comes across that angry stormy sea as if it were not there just to be near us.  Though it may be impossible to allow him into our hearts for everything that is going on, he is with us through the midst until we reach the stability of shore, and can walk with him side by side. 

May we not despair nor become despondent, but rather say within the recesses of our heart, "Jesus, I trust in you."