Many protestants think that Catholics do not read the bible. They often think that the Catholic Church even discourages reading the bible. In more extreme cases, some people think that the Church tries to hide biblical truths from lay Catholics.

Catholics Read the Bible at Mass

Did you know that the Catholic Church reads the entire Bible to her congregation over the span of three years? The Bible is read during the first part of the Catholic Mass: 3 readings on Sundays and 2 readings Monday through Saturday, also known as daily Mass. At each weekend Mass Catholics hear an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading, and a Gospel reading, all relating to a central theme. Then the priest gives a homily typically on that theme or sometimes directly regarding one or more of the Scripture readings. At daily Masses is typically one Old Testament reading and a Gospel reading. Catholics also sing the Scriptures during the Responsorial Psalm which takes place between the first and second readings, and Scripture is also sung throughout the hymns which are primarily based on the Bible.

Catholics Read the Bible at Home

While it is true that many, many Catholics never really read the bible on their own, that is not the case for all Catholics. It is also not true that the Church discourages it! In fact, Saint Jerome said "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." That was back in the 5th century!

Catholics are certainly encouraged to read the Bible for personal devotion and study outside of Mass. Additionally, there are many excellent Bible studies held at parishes around the world.

Not only do Catholics read the Bible, they experience the Bible like no other Christians in the Mass. Sprinkled throughout the Mass, in the prayers the priest prays or the responses from the congregation, are rituals and quotes directly from the Bible. You see, the Catholic Church celebrates, lives, and teaches everything through the Scriptures. The Catholic Church is the most biblical church in all of Christianity.

Why the Misunderstanding?

So why is it, then, that so many protestants think that Catholics don't read the bible? It's probably because many of them have met Catholics who don't know much about the bible. This is a sad, but true reality. All people, including Catholics, should read the bible more, we can all agree on that!

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.

The most memorable words from today's Gospel passage are "rock" and "keys." "Rock" refers to the unshakable foundation he has given to his Church: the papacy.

"Keys" refer to the divinely guaranteed guidance and authority that the papacy will steadily provide about what we should believe and how we should live - faith and morals.

As St Augustine said: "Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia", where Peter [the papacy] is, there the Church is. This is why we call the pope Christ's Vicar on earth, the visible head of the Church.

This is also why it is hypocritical for Catholics to criticize, contradict, and disobey the pope and his official teaching. A "Pro-Choice Catholic," for example, is a contradiction in terms.

It's a Catholic who doesn't believe that God is guiding the Church through the popes and the bishops in communion with them, who have taught consistently and clearly that abortion is the killing of an innocent human life and can never be a legitimate choice.

Throughout history, some popes have been corrupt, weak, and sinful, but Jesus kept his promise. Those bad popes never dismantled the pure teaching of the Gospel, nor did they interrupt the flow of grace that the Holy Spirit continues to send through the sacraments.

But there is also a third memorable image in today's Gospel. After talking about the rock and the keys, Jesus says that "the gates of the netherworld" will not prevail against his Church.

The rock and the keys tell us how the Church is structured, but this phrase tells us what the Church does: it overthrows the kingdom of the devil, breaking down the gates of evil that closed upon the world after original sin.

The Church is no passive organization, no religious or social club; it has a mission. Being Catholic means being part of a spiritual army called and equipped by God to fight and conquer sin and evil.

In human life, signs and symbols occupy an important place. As a being at once body and spirit, man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols. Inasmuch as they are creatures, these perceptible realities can become means of expressing the action of God who sanctifies men, and the action of men who offer worship to God. This sacramental principle is the consistent belief of the Church throughout history. In Liturgy, we use words, gestures, signs and symbols to proclaim Christ's presence and to reply with our worship and praise.

Saint Augustine's experience when it teaches that the music and song of the liturgy "participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful." He adhered to the older proverb: "Whoever sings well prays twice over."

God has bestowed upon his people the gift of song. God dwells within each human person, in the place where music takes its source. Indeed, God, the giver of song, is present whenever his people sing his praises.

In the Bible a lot of joy and gratitude gets expressed in random acts of music. "Sing to the Lord a new song!" the psalmists say. Many of the big players have a song to sing, especially the women: Miriam at the Red Sea rescue; Hannah at the birth of her child; Deborah after her battleground victory achieved with the help of another woman, Jael; Judith after defeating Holofernes; and Mary when she visits Elizabeth and shares her annunciation. King David himself wrote music, played, and danced in front of the nation. Saint Paul advocated that believers sing "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16).

A cry from deep within our being, music is a way for God to lead us to the realm of higher things. As St. Augustine says, "Singing is for the one who loves." Music is therefore a sign of God's love for us and of our love for him. In this sense, it is very personal. But unless music sounds, it is not music, and whenever it sounds, it is accessible to others. By its very nature song has both an individual and a communal dimension. Thus, it is no wonder that singing together in church expresses so well the sacramental presence of God to his people.

Obedient to Christ and to the Church, we gather in liturgical assembly, week after week. As our predecessors did, we find ourselves singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God. This common, sung expression of faith within liturgical celebrations strengthens our faith when it grows weak and draws us into the divinely inspired voice of the Church at prayer. Faith grows when it is well expressed in celebration. Good celebrations can foster and nourish faith. Good music makes the liturgical prayers of the Christian community more alive and fervent so that everyone can praise and beseech the Triune God more powerfully, more intently and more effectively.

The primordial song of the Liturgy is the canticle of victory over sin and death. It is the song of the saints, standing beside "the sea of glass": They were holding God's harps, and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Liturgical singing is established in the midst of this great historical tension. For Israel, the event of salvation in the Red Sea will always be the main reason for praising God, the basic theme of the songs it sings before God. For Christians, the Resurrection of Christ is the true Exodus. The definitively new song has been intoned.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm. 

The heart of God can be moved, because God is a person, not a force. This Christian truth shines through in today's Gospel.

Jesus had a particular mission to accomplish during his earthly lifetime. He was to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies and lay the foundation of the Catholic Church. The parameters of this mission did not include Canaanites (ancestral enemies of the Israelites).

And yet, Jesus makes an exception to these parameters after his encounter with the Canaanite woman.

She touched his heart because she had what Christ's heart most yearns for: love, faith, and humility.

Her love comes across in her self-forgetfulness.

She was so concerned for her daughter, then she was even willing to make a humiliating spectacle out of herself, tagging along behind a Jewish rabbi in public, screaming to get his attention.

Her faith comes across in how she addresses Jesus. She calls him "Lord" and "Son of David." This shows that although she was a Canaanite; she knew about the Jewish religion and accepted God's promise to send a Messiah.

And when he finally stops to listen to her, she falls on her knees and does him homage - she knows she is in God's presence. She believed in Jesus, so much so, in fact, that Jesus himself compliments her on her faith!

Her humility comes across in the way she makes her request. She didn't come to him burning with anger at God for allowing her innocent daughter to be tormented by demons.

She understood that miracles were undeserved gifts from God, just like existence itself. This humble attitude strengthened her, enabling her to absorb the Lord's initial rejection, and then come right back with another petition.

Love, faith, and humility: these are the ingredients for prayer that moves the heart of God - a heart that can be moved, because God is a person, not a force. 

Let us ask why is gratitude necessary.

Cicero, the famous Roman senator and orator once wrote, "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." Gratitude is a rare virtue indeed. It's part of a healthy spiritual life. It's everywhere in the Bible, from the Psalms 100:4"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" Psalm, to the Gospel of Luke (17:1-19) where Jesus cured the 10 lepers — and only one returned to thank him and praise God.

Gratitude is the ability to express our thankful appreciation in word or deed, to the person whose words or actions have benefited us in some way. The truly humble and noble person will always be grateful for the benefits received. Ingratitude is an ugly sin.

How can the virtue of gratitude be acquired?

Fundamentally, cultivating the spirit of gratitude requires us to develop humility. We need to understand that everything that we have and everything that we are is a gift.

Let us making a list of all of the wonderful gifts that we receive each day of our entire life. We could start with life. We have been given the gift of life. Consider the air that we breathe. We take such things as air, water and even good health all for granted. We need to consider our families, the houses that we live in, the food that we eat each day, our education, our jobs, and the fact that we live in a free country.

Once we consider the obvious gifts that we have received, we can go deeper. Take into consideration all that God has done for us. He loves us unconditionally. We have the Catholic Church, the Bible and the Sacraments. We can all remember how a Catholic priest inspired us in a homily, gave us an encouraging word in Confession.

We need to understand that we have received so much. Should we not always be grateful? The virtue of gratitude can be expressed in very simple ways. We should always express our gratitude. The phrase "thank you" should be a common part of our daily vocabulary.

The French philosopher Jacques Maritain once said that "Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy." He is correct and it is important that we acquire good manners and social graces. The loss of morals and common decency has caused the gentleman and the lady to be something of the past.

The virtue of gratitude is very important. However, it is equally important that we serve others with a spirit of detachment. We must not look for recognition or earthly glory. We must continue to love others without seeking anything in return. Let us remember what Jesus teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount: "your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6: 3). Nevertheless, the Gospel calls us to give of ourselves unconditionally and seek as our only reward eternal life in heaven. This is true Christianity. The standard of greatness for Christianity is not earthly glory, but the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Gratitude is a rare virtue indeed. We need to be filled always with gratitude for God's unconditional love. We need to always thank all those who serve us and love us with their generous service. The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness." (St. Gianna Beretta Molla)

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm. 

In today's Gospel, Peter shows both his impulsiveness and his inconstancy - two characteristics that make him easy to relate to.

It's around 3 o'clock in the morning as the Apostles battle against a stormy sea, and Jesus comes walking across the lake towards the boat. The Apostles are scared stiff - they think they are seeing a ghost.

Even Jesus' reassurance doesn't allay their fears, so Peter takes the matter into his own hands and challenges the ghost to do something that only Christ could do - enable him to walk on the stormy water. And he does - for a few steps. But then Peter takes his eyes off Christ; he looks around at the waves and the storm, and he starts to sink.

As long as Peter kept his eyes on Christ, he was able to walk unhindered through the stormy sea. As soon as he let his eyes wander away from Christ to examine the intimidating waves, he began to sink.

Just so, as we strive to make our way through the stormy temptations and challenges of life in a fallen world, only focusing on Christ can keep us afloat.

Christ is always close to us in our storms, asking us to believe in him.

In his words to Peter, tinged with disappointment, we see how much he longs for us to trust him: "Why did you doubt?"

As soon as Jesus steps into the boat, the storm gives way to peace and calm. Christ wants to be our peace, our strength, and the solution to life's troubles.

St Peter didn't learn this lesson right away, but he learned it well; in his First Letter he put it like this: "cast all your anxieties on him [Christ], for he cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7).

As a closing I like to quote word from St. Augustine:

"If I try by myself to swim across the ocean of this world, the waves will certainly engulf me. In order to survive I must climb aboard a ship made of wood; this wood is the Cross of Christ. Of course, even on board the ship there will be dangerous tempests and perils from the sea of this world. But God will help me remain on board the ship and arrive safely at the harbor of eternal life." 

Didn't God say, "Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God"?(Leviticus 19:4).

Yet Catholics persist in decorating their churches with numerous statues. Why is that?Does it go against everything that God laid down in the Bible?

During a plague of serpents sent to punish the Israelites during the exodus, God told Moses to "make [a statue of] a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it shall live. So, Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live" (Num. 21:8–9).

One had to look at the bronze statue of the serpent to be healed, which shows that statues could be used ritually, not merely as religious decorations.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word: so it was with the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim" (CCC 2130).

With this in mind "the seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea (787) justified … the veneration of icons — of Christ, but also of the Mother of God, the angels, and all the saints. By becoming incarnate, the Son of God introduced a new 'economy' of images" (CCC 2131). The Church has since taught that the, "Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, 'the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype,' and 'whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.' The honor paid to sacred images is a 'respectful veneration,' not the adoration due to God alone" (CCC 2132).

The main difference between pagans who worship idols and Christians who venerate statues lies in the intention of the person. Christians who pray before statues do so to honor God or the saints, praying to the person "behind" the image rather than the image itself. A Christian is not bound to the statue. If the statue is destroyed, a Christian's faith does not waver or cease.It is simply a representation of God (or a saint) and is a material object.

As the Catechism pointed out, Christians do not "adore" the statue, but "venerate" it; adoration is reserved to God alone. If someone were to pray to the statue itself or adore the statue, they would be committing idolatry, but this is not what the Catholic Church instructs her members to do. The Church teaches Christians to venerate statues, recognizing that they point to a hidden, spiritual reality that is not bound to the representation.

Another way to put it is that statues are holy reminders of various saints and of God. They remind us of heavenly things and point our souls to the Trinity. Statues are instruments, tools to be used in the spiritual life and not ends in themselves.

Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Just as it helps to remember one's mother by looking at her photograph, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at pictures of them. Catholics also use statues as teaching tools. In the early Church they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate.

So, while it may seem that Catholics are worshiping statues, they are not. They are using statues, as God permits, as images that point "symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word."

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.

St Matthew tells us, "When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself." What is the "it" St. Matthew is referring to? It refers to the death of St. John the Baptist. This death moves Jesus deeply for three reasons.

First, they had been cousins - there was the bond of family between them.

Second, they had both received a special mission in the history of salvation - so there was the deep common bond of dedication to God's Kingdom.

And thirdly, John's death marked the beginning of a new stage in Christ's mission - the Messenger's job was done, the King's job was starting.

And so, with a sorrowful heart and a lot on his mind, Jesus goes away to be alone, to have time to reflect and pray at this crucial, painful moment. How beautifully Christ's human heart shines through in this detail!

This is our God, a man who knows what it is to be human, to suffer, to feel the weight of things! This is why we can always pour out our hearts to him, knowing that he will understand!

But the crowds refuse to let Jesus have his time alone - they flock around him, begging for words of wisdom and miracles of healing.

And how does Jesus react? He cannot resist their pleas. He puts his own loneliness and preoccupations aside, sits down, and gives audience to the throngs - comforting, healing, teaching, listening...

And when it seems he can do no more, when his disciples are totally worn out, he miraculously multiplies the loaves and fish. All day long attending the needy crowds, when his heart yearned to be alone with his Father!

This too is our Lord - a man who lives entirely for the good of those he loves, for us! 

A Vision for Visions...

Let us take a closer look at the sacred vessel, the Monstrance, that houses the Body, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord. The Monstrance draws all eyes to the Sacred Host that is seemingly surrounded by rays, like the sun.

Similarly, we each are called to be a "Living Monstrance", radiating the presence of the Lord Who dwells in us.

The Monstrance is surmounted by a Cross ... what does this tell us?

Let us look at Jesus in the Monstrance, who humbles Himself to come before us as a piece of bread. Let us reflect on our own life's situations that call us to humility. Are we humble, as God wants us to be, to bear our Crosses daily? Other virtues such as patience, temperance, self-control and piety will soon follow.

A Taste of Heaven awaits us in Eucharistic Adoration!

Indeed, Earth is joined to Heaven each time we are united with the Saints and Angels in extolling God, Who, in worship we see, if not with the sight of eyes, then with the eyes of faith.

We are called to abide in the Eucharistic Presence of our Lord, like the Saints and Angels do in Heaven, as they behold the glory of God and sing His praise! The Saints and Angels wait upon the Lord and do His Will in all things. Their presence magnifies the Lord. They also intercede (for us) before the Lord.

When we look upon the Sacred Host, we look at Jesus, the Son of God. Do we see Him in all His glory and majesty? Do our lips proclaim His praise? Do our souls magnify the Lord - making Him clearer, more in focus, and larger to others around us? Do we place the needs of others before Him? Are we open to the Will of God and strive for perfection in our spiritual lives so that we, too, may one day join the company of Saints in Heaven?

It is at this moment when we are most intimately in communion with God that we experience a taste of Heaven, a foreshadowing of what it will be like, when, by God's grace, we enter into everlasting life. "Indeed, this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the last day." (Jn 6:40)

We Grow in Love for Jesus with Every Encounter.

In John 21:16, Jesus asks Peter the question that will determine his whole life: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Jesus is asking each of us the same question: do you love me? Those of us who have an experience of love, know, that true love sets no conditions; it simply loves and yet it must be nurtured and nourished by intimacy, closeness or regular contact.

It is the same with time spent in divine intimacy with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. How can our encounters with the Lord not cause us to fall more and more in love with Him? As we yield to such love, it will prompt hunger for Scripture and the Sacraments as we seek to know and experience Him on a deeper level. It will make us remember Him throughout the day, inspire us to do little things "just for Him" and try and make ourselves more attractive to Him by lives of purity and holiness. And yet, we should not feel discouraged if we cannot love Him fully because Jesus assures us that He will always love us with a love that surpasses all.

"O God, You are my God -- for You I long!"

In Psalm 63, the Psalmist longs for divine life, which is based on a close relationship with God. The Psalm most beautifully expresses the intimate relationship between God and the one who worships Him in His holy Temple.

Such must be OUR love and total self-giving to Jesus, exposed on the Altar, for our sake!

"O God, You are my God -- for You I long! For You my body yearns; for You my soul thirsts, like a land parched, lifeless, and without water. So I look to You in the Sanctuary to see Your power and glory. For Your love is better than life; my lips offer You worship! I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on Your name. My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise, with joyous lips my mouth shall honor You!"

Jesus asks for so little.... Yet, He gives so much!

"This - The Eucharist - the whole Christ" is His gift to all. Whether we are young or old, sick or healthy, poor or rich, only by regularly partaking in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, can we reap immense spiritual and temporal blessings in our lives!

The Blessed Sacrament is the LIVING FOUNTAIN OF LIFE where we drink in the love of Christ Who alone quenches our thirst.

Thus, our time spent with our Beloved Saviour in Adoration, can become the most profound, meaningful, joyful, peaceful and healing experience we could ever encounter!

May our adoration never cease!

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm. 

Today Jesus is showing us not only what his Kingdom is like in itself, but what it means for us personally. He gives us a snapshot of two men whose lives are suddenly lifted to an entirely different level.

A farmer is plowing a field that is not his own. He is a hired laborer, a farmhand, someone who has to spend his days worrying about making ends meet. As he plows, he uncovers a buried treasure.

Suddenly, he is set free from the chains of poverty and uncertainty; now he can live life to the full.

A businessman spends his career working long hours, travelling, suffering, looking all the while for the deal that will liberate him from 80-hour work weeks and give him security. Finally, he finds the pearl of great price.

He too can now enjoy the peace of stable prosperity, free from the rat race and the worry of living hand-to-mouth.

This is what happens to us when we enter fully into Christ's Kingdom.

When we decide to follow Jesus, to obey his teachings and make his friendship our highest priority, we put ourselves under his protection and his guidance, becoming full citizens of his Kingdom.

And as soon as we do that, suddenly our lives take on a whole new purpose. Suddenly our relationships, actions, and decisions take on transcendent meaning; they are connected to eternal life.

Suddenly, we are free from the frustration and meaninglessness that comes from living only for the passing, superficial pleasures and successes of this life, because we have found something infinitely more valuable: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, King and Lord of heaven and earth.

That relationship is our treasure and pearl; it alone can give us the joy and satisfaction we yearn for in the depths of our hearts. 

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made." (Ps 145:13)

Day and night Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament because of His Infinite love for us!

Jesus gives us His body (to eat) so that He can nourish us, strengthen us and give us His own life ..... and lest we be blinded by His glory, He humbles Himself to come to us in the humble species of bread... "Behold I will be with you always even to the end of the world," because "I have loved you with an everlasting love, and constant is My affection for you." (Mt 28:20; Jer 31:3)

How must we respond? Through our worship and recognition of Him in the Eucharist! He is calling us to faith, that we many come to Him in humility.

"Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Are you tired because of the burden of your duties, because of frustration due to unsuccessful projects, because many misunderstand you? Are you heavy laden with guilt from past sins? Are you trying to find hope and meaning in life? Do not lose heart! Abandon yourself to Jesus in this "Sacrament of Love": He will refresh you!

The more time you spend with Jesus, the more you will come away feeling renewed and healed. Miracles of conversion, peace, discovery of vocations, answers to prayers, physical healings, and many other wonderful things happen where and when the Lord Jesus is adored in the Blessed Sacrament. They are the "gifts" that point to the Almighty Giver and testify to His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament...

Let us love being with the Lord! There we can speak with Him about everything. We can offer Him our petitions, our concerns, our troubles, our joys, our gratitude, our disappointments, our needs and our aspirations. Above all we can remember to pray: 'Lord send laborers into Your harvest! Help me to be a good worker in Your vineyard!'

When asked, "What would save the world?" ... Mother Teresa replied: "My answer is prayer. What we need is for every parish to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in holy hours of prayer."

"Remain in Me, as I remain in you."

We grow spiritually with each moment we spend with Jesus! Through our Adoration, Jesus calls us to a personal relationship (to become His friends and disciples), to "remain in Him" (Divine Intimacy), to "remain in His love" (Keep His commandments). He promises that all those who remain tightly bonded to Him, will bear much fruit and "their joy will be complete". For without Him, we can do nothing.

Through this "friendship", we are inspired and strengthened to take on life's challenges, to carry our daily cross with a new attitude, to become a "new creation" (more and more like Jesus).

Through Eucharistic Adoration - we proclaim Jesus to the World.

Eucharistic Adoration is an affirmation of our faith. Through the vigil of prayer, we give witness to our belief that God is truly dwelling with His people.

"Love one another as I have loved you."

Eucharistic Adoration helps build a community of love.

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of unity, Jesus unifying His people. Through the personal love, that one shares with the Saviour, one is more able to grasp the reality that we are the whole Body of Christ.

Prayers as a community, especially intercessory prayers for the needs of the community and the World - help to build a "civilization of love" - to "transform the World". The prayers that we say can draw the World and everybody in the World closer to Christ and to God the Father for His blessing.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm. 

• Please refer to our website (stannes.hk) for the latest Chancery Notice with regard to the further suspension of public masses, etc.
• Catholic Youth Group meetings will resume on 14 Aug 2020 at 7:30 PM at the Parish Hall. (Meetings are held every second Fri of each month at 7:30 PM at the Parish Hall.)

In today's Gospel Our Lord teaches us that evil will be present in the world until the last days of Judgement when the fruits of all are measured. Evil festers in hearts; it is not always seen on the surface. Holiness is characterized by meekness and humility, so it is not always seen on the surface either.

Like wheat, holiness is in the world trying to grow into something good. Like weeds, evil is at work doing the opposite, preying on the good in parasitic way to serve nothing other than itself. It can be hard to tell the difference and, therefore, we need to be on guard against a holiness that is only skin deep.

Today's First Reading reminds us that we can try to be masters of moral disguise, but the Lord sees beyond the surface and measures us by our deeds, not just appearances.

The Lord never misjudges anyone, yet people still try to deceive him, if they believe in him at all. The Lord gives the unjust time to change their ways, to seek his forgiveness, usually for far longer than we would, because he truly cares about them. The Lord is willing to put up with a lot of things, but in justice, he cannot ignore insincerity.

In today's Second Reading Paul reminds us that holiness is something that comes from the depths of our soul because it consists of making the Spirit of God our spirit.

The special ingredient in a Christian life is that even when we're weak, the Holy Spirit helps us to be holy. The Spirit is the protagonist in our sanctification, from the sacraments we receive to the prayers we say.

The three parables in today's Gospel teach us that holiness is often hidden, even small in the eyes of the world, but makes good things spread and grow, unlike parasitical weeds.

Wheat is not very glamourous, but if we want bread, a symbol of life, it is essential. When we eat a sandwich, we don't think much of the wheat that went into it, but we certainly enjoy the sandwich.

Leaven is useful not only for baking bread but for baking delicious bread. When we receive the Eucharist, made from unleavened bread due to Passover traditions, we note the difference from the bread we eat every day. Leaven does its job by quietly being sifted throughout the flour used to make the bread, but it makes a big impact on the recipe.

Mustard seeds average between 1-2 millimeters in size and may seem small and inconsequential, but on a hot day, the shade and shelter of a tree that grows up to twenty feet tall and wide is not to be ignored. The mustard seed in today's parable also shows that the Church may start small and seemingly insignificant, but is meant to spread far and wide.

Avoid Rash Judgments

The sower in today's Gospel had to wait because the wheat and weeds looked so similar as they were growing that he didn't want to uproot wheat while he was pulling up weeds.

A rash judgment is when we jump to conclusions about something or someone, and many times those rash judgments are wrong. Unfortunately, there are as many rash judgments in society today as there are weeds, even from Christian quarters.

Imagine if it had never occurred to someone that a mustard seed might grow into something even more useful, or that yeast would take baking to a whole new level.

Even worse would be to admit a "weed" into our life thinking it was wheat, or excluding wheat thinking it was a weed. Our Lord is the just judge. Let's leave the judging to him. 

In his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis called Mary, the mother of evangelization.

"With the Holy Spirit, Mary is always present in the midst of the people," he wrote. "She joined the disciples in praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14) and thus made possible the missionary outburst which took place at Pentecost. She is the mother of the Church which evangelizes, and without her, we could never truly understand the spirit of the new evangelization."

"As a true mother, she walks at our side, she shares our struggles and she constantly surrounds us with God's love.," When it comes to discipleship, the Blessed Mother is the example Catholics are called to follow.

Mary as the perfect role model of discipleship. Marian devotions, the rosary, the different canticles, give us a sense of the surrendering to God in our lives, having that relationship with God which builds up who we are in relationship with Christ."

"Even the titles the Church gives her – Mother of God, Mother of the Church, Queen of Heaven, Intercessor on our behalf—shows how she leads us to her son, Jesus Christ." We also see the human side of Mary in Scripture, especially in the Gospel of Luke 2:41-52, when the boy Jesus got lost at the Temple.

"After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety" (Luke 2:46,48).

We see a little bit of frustration on Mary's part as a mother. That helps us to understand that Mary, too, had the same pressures upon her that modern day mothers have with regards to their children.

Mary was contemplative, pondered things in her heart. Still, she did not question. She said God's will be done.

When you think about her steadfast witness, that is one of the first prerequisites of evangelization. She was solid in her faith, and knew God would do what God had said. She was a trusting servant.

Scriptures have taught us a lot about Mary and her relationship with Christ, being the mother of Christ, being a disciple, a true follower. We are all called to follow her path.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm. 

Today's readings remind us that the soul, like soil, must be good if we expect good things to grow from it.

In today's First Reading we're taught that God's word comes down like the rain to nourish the earth and help good things grow. Throughout salvation history, the Lord has rained down many words to help his creation thrive and grow, but with mixed results.

Isaiah reminds us today that those mixed results are not the Lord's fault; they're ours. The rain produces fields ripe for cultivation, but it takes work to reap the seeds that will keep the crops going, and keep bread on tables.

In today's Second Reading Paul reminds us that sin did not just mess up agriculture; it messed up the designs of creation itself by diverting it from its purpose.

Sin tried to frustrate that glorious harvest, but the Word came to show us how to follow God's plan for a glorious harvest once again and help creation achieve its purpose again.

Today's Gospel is the Parable of the Sower, and the seed being sown is the Word of God trying to make its way into a soul. Through the parable, Our Lord explains the obstacles to the Word of God bearing good fruit. Our Lord invites us to see the difference between hearing something and listening, between looking at something and seeing it. Just as farmers till the soil we have to be active in letting the Word of God bear fruit in our life by cultivating the soil of our soul.

We shouldn't be afraid of welcoming and nourishing the seed of God's Word because God has sown it for a good purpose and he will continue to watch over the soil and cultivate it. He may ask for something demanding, but he'll be with you every step of the way, and he has plans for something good to grow out of your generosity and sacrifice.

Parables present something from daily life, but are also doorways to other spiritual and divine insights about God, the "knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven." It's not enough to look at the door: it must be opened to discover what lies beyond.

When we see parable in this way when we see the Word of God in this way, we see something from which we can draw profound truths regarding ourselves, our world, and Our Lord, not just once, but constantly. That requires an effort in faith to listen and to see, an effort to open our hearts and open that door into the greater world Our Lord wants to reveal to us.

If we don't understand what he is telling us, his Word stays on the surface and doesn't penetrate our hearts, and the Evil One can easily sweep it away before it has any effect. There is an active Evil presence out there that would like us to remain shallow and superficial and someday lose eternity with God, which is why we always need to watch and pray in moments of temptation and seek to understand God's Word with profundity.

There's a moment where an insight into his Word causes sensible consolations and warm feelings, but sentiments are often skin deep and change direction like the wind. If we only listen to feel good, when we start feeling bad we'll stop listening–enthusiasm only lasts so long.

God's Word wants to be with us and help us in our ups and downs; he always has something to say, so whether we're exultant about something or despondent, we need to keep listening, harder if needed.

There is a beautiful little book, Listening at Prayer, with a simple and powerful premise: sometimes in prayer, you just have to be quiet and listen.

We often recite prayers or launch into our needs as soon as we have a quiet moment of prayer, but we don't take much time to listen.

Amen 

Carmelites and Mary

For centuries Carmelite had been secure in their devotion to Mary through the Brown Scapular. But the Carmelite heritage was much richer and many studies began to appear on Mary and Carmel. There are five truths about Mary in the Carmelite Order, not all equally emphasized in any particular century. They are not exclusive to the Order, but they show its preferences in reflecting on the Mother of God.

Mary is Mother. Carmelites took up this Church teaching with great enthusiasm. But they added another word, so that "Mother and Beauty of Carmel" became a preferred name for her.

Secondly, Mary is also seen as Patron of Carmelites. This is a medieval concept that implies a two-way relationship between lord and servant: the lord protected his servants; they in turn looked after his interests. Such a concept fitted admirably the Carmelite vision of Mary as one whom they loved and served, and who in turn protected them.

Again, Mary is also Sister of Carmelites. The idea of Mary as Sister is found also in the first millennium, and it was introduced in papal teaching by Paul VI. When we speak of Mary as Sister, we are reminded that she too is one like us, is a daughter of Adam, and that she had to walk the same path of faith, hope and love as all others. The Carmelite idea of Mary as Sister can also have something of the idea of an elder, caring sister who looks after the rest of the family. We can look up to our Sister and accept her guidance. At different times we may be more drawn to the idea of Mary as Sister, rather than as Mother. Both are legitimate, but we should not deny the validity of a title that may not attract us at a particular time.

Fourthly, Mary is the Most Pure Virgin. This title, very common in Carmelite saints and writers looks especially to Mary's purity of heart. She retained God's word in her heart (see Luke 2:19.51) and she served him with an undivided and pure heart.

Mary is finally the Model for Carmelites. We can look at what she did. But we have to go deeper. It is not just a matter of doing what Mary did, but having her attitude in all our thoughts and actions.

Presence

A renewed devotion to Mary is not primarily a matter of saying more prayers to her. It implies a relationship with her, which will be established by prayer and reflected in imitation. There is a huge difference between knowing about a person, and really knowing them. Renewal in our Marian life is not a matter of prayers or information, but a loving knowing.

Such a knowing loving, or loving knowing, lies behind the idea of presence. In a letter to the two branches of the Carmelite Order (O.Carm. and OCD) Pope John Paul spoke of the "tender and maternal presence of Mary" which we seek by wearing the Brown Scapular (Letter, Il provvidentialz evento, 25 March 2001). We know that we are always in the presence of God, who sustains us, keeps us in being. But we may not be alert to this presence as we go about our daily lives. It is good to stop occasionally and reflect that we are always in God's presence.

The gentle presence of Mary is found in her caring for all the Church, in her continuous prayer for us, "now and at the hour of our death" (Hail Mary). We can become aware of her presence if we think of her now and again, speak to her, ask for her guidance, consider how she would act in the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. We can go further and enjoy and relax in her presence.

There is a saying "Never enough about Mary" which is often ascribed to St. Bernard (d. 1153), but in fact came centuries later. It is a principle that needs to be carefully understood. We do not need more dogmas about Mary, or necessarily more prayers, celebrations or titles. We can never, however, sufficiently praise God for the wonders of his grace and love in the Mother of his Son. We can never thank her enough for her motherly care for us. We can never love her enough. As we think of her gentle presence, we are only beginning our future life in which with her we will eternally praise the Trinity.

C. O'Donnell, O.Carm. 

Today's readings remind us that while many things in a believer's life remain the same whether they're believers or not, the believer also lives those things differently: in meekness and humility of heart.

In today's First Reading, a prophecy of the Messiah, the Messiah does not come charging in on a huge warhorse; he comes on a lowly beast of burden not "built for speed."

The king is just, but meek. That doesn't seem enough to do the job. How is he going to banish chariots and archers and establish peace among the nations with so little? The Lord promises this king will not just serve national interests: he will proclaim peace to the nations and reign over them all.

He is not ambitious, but selfless and simple. He has a big job to do, and he doesn't tackle it making a lot of noise or mustering a huge army. We know who this Messiah, is and how he brought peace: his meekness, justice, and desire for peace disarmed the world of his time and took it by storm.

In today's Second Reading Paul gives us an insight into how the Messiah, and his disciples, conquered the world: by turning from the flesh and living the life of the Spirit.

The Spirit of the Lord spread and conquered hearts, just as it does today. However, we always face the danger of backsliding, and some don't live according to the Spirit of God at all, despite the fact that they've received the Spirit through faith in Christ and Baptism.

It's the Spirit that teaches us the true cause of woe and war and provides the solution: the desires of the flesh must be conquered. Wars and discord in our world stem from those who strive after the things of the flesh, desires that make them greedy, selfish, and cruel.

The true war, at times unseen, is between the flesh and the Spirit. It is still waged by Christians, with victories and defeats, but always with their hope firmly placed in the Lord, who definitively overthrew the things of the flesh.

In today's Gospel, the Lord teaches us that there are things in life to which we'll be blind if we are not "little" in our aspirations and taught by him how to be meek and humble of heart.

Creation was made with the Son in mind, so it is no wonder that the Father would make his Son the key to understanding life's meaning and purpose.

The Son encourages us to learn from him, meek and humble of heart. Without this knowledge, life is much more burdensome than it was meant to be. That's why in today's Gospel he assures us that it is not as tough as it seems, and will give us rest from our struggles.

If the Spirit of Christ is woven into the fabric of creation, the more we imitate him and try to make his Spirit guide our lives, the easier everything will be because through peace with Our Lord we'll also achieve peace with ourselves and with his creation. 

Carmel is Marian. We belong to Mary. But if you notice, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is always depicted as holding the Child Jesus. Carmelites love Mary and honor her as the one who introduces us to Jesus. She is always present in the Carmelite tradition and her presence, though somewhat inconspicuous, is fundamental.

When Mary is present in the Carmelite writings she is almost invariably eclipsed by her Son. It is a reminder that, even though we cannot see the moon when the sun is shining, the moon is always there, and it draws its light from the sun. In the same way, Carmelites remember that while our sight is focused on Jesus, Mary is still there. Like the moon she sheds not light of her own, but reflects the Light from her Divine Son.

For the Carmelite, Mary is always offering Jesus to us – Jesus, whom our Rule calls 'our only Saviour' (Chapter 19). The Carmelite knows and always remembers that Jesus is our only hope, our only mediator of salvation, our only intercessor with God the Father. The Carmelite always looks at Mary smiling, as she puts your hand into the hand of her Son, and as she sees your gaze turn from her to him and the love that you have for him come alive in your heart as it has in hers ever since that moment when the angel gave his greeting.

For us Carmelites, the principle sign of our devotion to Mary is imitation. And the outward manifestation of our Carmelite devotion to her is the Brown Scapular. Unfortunately, in the years since the Fatima apparitions, the connection between the brown scapular and the Carmelite Order has been broken. And many people who wear the scapular do not even know that this badge of devotion is the gift to the Church of our Carmelite family. We need to wear the scapular. We also need to learn what the Church and what the Order is teaching about the scapular. Much has changed in this regard. Very much has changed in this regard in the last four decades and we have a need to re-educate ourselves on this beautiful symbol. It must be a priority for the Order to continue to develop new catechetical materials on the scapular.

Many Carmelites find Mary and prayers and devotions such as the Rosary tremendous helps in their spiritual life. And the Order encourages us in this devotion. These devotional prayers never replace the Prayer of the Church, that is, the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, though the individual Lay Carmelite may decide from time to time, even with some frequency, to substitute the Rosary for the private recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Lay Carmelite community, like the friars and the nuns when they gather in prayer, always focuses on the Liturgy of the Hours which it prays as part of the official Prayer of the Church. This praying the Liturgy of the Hours is one of the signs of the unity of the Carmelite with the universal Church. It is our goal, and our hope, and our ambition, that the Liturgy of the Hours will be part of the prayer life for each and every Carmelite in their private life and also part of the meeting of each and every Lay Carmelite community. Similarly, while Carmelites are always prepared to honor the Mother of God we do so, as we normally do all our prayer, in the solitude of our cells. If you want to honor Mary then listen to her Son and put his teaching into practice in your lives.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.