Sunday, July 7, 2019

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (14^th S. in Ord. Time)

Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 14-16

¹⁴But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. ¹⁶Peace* and mercy be to all who follow this rule* and to the Israel of God.

St. Faustina[1] relays to us this astounding counter-intuitive insight, given to her by Jesus: “If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering.” Blessed Dina Belanger also said that angels, if they could desire anything extra, would desire to suffer. Therefore, Paul tells us to glory in the cross, not in circumcision, as the means of salvation. In and through the Eucharist we are made a new creation; we who were dead in our sins are given new life eternal. Christ within us compels us to therefore protect life and the unborn.

On Being "Pro-Choice" on Abortion[2]

Papal Teaching

· Responsibility likewise falls on the legislators who have promoted and approved abortion laws, and, to the extent that they have a say in the matter, on the administrators of the health-care centers where abortions are performed. ... In this sense abortion goes beyond the responsibility of individuals and beyond the harm done to them and takes on a distinctly social dimension. It is a most serious wound inflicted on society and its culture by the very people who ought to be society's promoters and defenders.

· When a parliamentary or social majority decrees that it is legal, at least under certain conditions, to kill unborn human life, is it not really making a 'tyrannical' decision with regard to the weakest and most defenseless of human beings?....While public authority can sometimes choose not to put a stop to something which – were it prohibited – would cause more serious harm, it can never presume to legitimize as a right of individuals – even if they are the majority of the members of society – an offense against other persons caused by the disregard of so fundamental a right as the right to life.

· Laws which legitimize the direct killing of innocent human beings through abortion or euthanasia are in complete opposition to the inviolable right to life proper to every individual; they thus deny the equality of everyone before the law.

· Utilitarianism is a civilization of production and of use, a civilization of "things" and not of "persons", a civilization in which persons are used in the same way as things are used. In the context of a civilization of use, woman can become an object for man, children a hindrance to parents, the family an institution obstructing the freedom of its members. To be convinced that this is the case, one need only look at certain sexual education programmes introduced into the schools, often notwithstanding the disagreement and even the protests of many parents; or pro-abortion tendencies which vainly try to hide behind the so-called "right to choose" ("pro-choice") on the part of both spouses, and in particular on the part of the woman.

· On "social sin": Also social is every sin against the rights of the human person, beginning with the right to life and including the life of the unborn or against a person's physical integrity...The term social can be applied to sins of commission or omission-on the part of political, economic or trade union leaders, who though in a position to do so, do not work diligently and wisely for the improvement and transformation of society according to the requirements and potential of the given historic moment...Whenever the church speaks of situations of sin or when the condemns as social sins certain situations or the collective behavior of certain social groups, big or small, or even of whole nations and blocs of nations, she knows and she proclaims that such cases of social sin are the result of the accumulation and concentration of many personal sins. It is a case of the very personal sins of those who cause or support evil or who exploit it; of those who are in a position to avoid, eliminate or at least limit certain social evils but who fail to do so out of laziness, fear or the conspiracy of silence, through secret complicity or indifference; of those who take refuge in the supposed impossibility of changing the world and also of those who sidestep the effort and sacrifice required, producing specious reasons of a higher order. The real responsibility, then, lies with individuals.

Fourtb Sunday after Pentecost[3]

Trusting in God in the midst of troubles. The example of St. Peter is given because of this Sunday's usual proximity to the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.*

WITH confidence in God’s fatherly protection, say, with the priest, in the Introit of the Mass, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? My enemies that trouble me have themselves been weakened and have fallen. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear” (Ps. xxvi. 1-3).

Prayer. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the course of the world, by Thy direction, may, in our regard, be peaceful; and that Thy Church may rejoice in tranquil devotion.

EPISTLE. Rom. viii. 18-23.

Brethren: I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be re vealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God For the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly, but by reason of Him that made it subject, in hope: because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth, and travaileth in pain even till now. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body: in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Brief Lessons.

There is no better consolation under crosses and afflictions than the thought that all the troubles of this world are not to be compared with the glory to come, and “that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory” (Cor. iv. 17). And, therefore, St. Bede says: “If we had to bear for awhile the pains of hell, it would not appear so hard, if thereby we might merit to see Christ in His glory, and to be added to His saints.”

GOSPEL. Luke v. 1-11.

At that time, when the multitudes pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Genesareth. And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And going into one of the ships that was Simon’s, He desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting, He taught the multitudes out of the ship. Now when He had ceased to speak, He said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said to Him: Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing: but at Thy word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke. And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed Him.

What may we learn from the multitudes who pressed on Jesus to hear the word of God? That we, also, should hear the word of God with great zeal, since it conveys to men the life of the soul and eternal happiness.

Why did Our Saviour teach the multitude out of the ship of St. Peter? That, as the ship is the figure of the Church, so we can receive the true doctrine from that Church only of which Peter was the head (John xxi. 15 17). Amid all storms Jesus has preserved, and will preserve, this ship of His Church, till the end of time (Matt. xvi. 18). Peter yet stands at the helm, in the unbroken line of his successors; Jesus yet teaches from the ship the same doctrines as before, by the mouth of bishops and priests, the assistants of St. Peter’s successors, and whoever hears them hears Him. Hear them, therefore, with willingness and docility.

What was signified by the great draught of fishes which the apostles took, by the command of Jesus, after they had labored the whole night in vain? To the disciples it was a type of their vocation, a pledge of their successful labors, and at the same time a lesson how to labor so as to gain fruits. The exceeding and wonderful abundance of the draught of fishes was to assure them that their zealous labors to save souls should, in like manner, be crowned with rich success. That, after laboring all the night in vain, they should at once take so many fish, when they let down their nets at the word of Jesus, was to be to them a lesson never to be forgotten, that they could work with blessing and success only by relying, not on their own skill and painstaking, but only on the might and blessing of the Lord.

What other lessons are to be drawn from this gospel? We learn that nothing has any value before God which is done from mere natural inclination and human respect, that our labors are without merit if not undertaken in the name of God, but that He does not permit the least work to be in vain when undertaken without hesitation, relying on His assistance and for His sake. That the disciples obeyed so quickly, teaches us to obey God at once, to spare no sacrifice, to leave all quickly, and not to put off till to-morrow what is to be done to-day. Finally, we may learn not to be proud of the success of our labor, but, like Peter, to give glory to God, Who does such great things, by cheerfully leaving all earthly things to follow Him.

National Chocolate Day[4]

National Chocolate Day celebrates chocolate and promotes its health benefits. Chocolate is a confection made from cacao seeds, which grow on cacao trees in the tropics. Seeds are removed from their pods and then dried, roasted and ground into cocoa powder or paste, which is then mixed with other ingredients such as butters, oils, sweeteners, milk and flour to produce chocolate. Chocolate is a staple in the American diet, with sales of over 21 billion dollars in 2014. National Chocolate Day is not an official celebration however, it was created by the National Confectioners Association. According to the Association's webpage, there are actually 3 National Chocolate Days throughout the year, on July 7th, October 28th and December 28th.

National Chocolate Day Facts & Quotes

· There are approximately 1.5 million cocoa farms in West Africa, producing nearly 70% of the world's cocoa.

· Cote D'Ivoire, a country in West Africa, produces the most cocoa. The small nation supplies nearly 40% of the world's cocoa.

· It takes between 2 and 4 days to make one chocolate bar.

· All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. -

· My momma always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. - Forrest Gump

National Chocolate Day Top Events and Things to Do

· Watch a movie about chocolate or a documentary about chocolate. Our favorites are: The Dark Side of Chocolate, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Nothing Like Chocolate and Coca-nomics.

· Try a healthy recipe to make your favorite chocolate bar at home. Chocolate bars sold on the shelves are full of artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils, preservatives and tons of added sugars. Try recipes that offer alternatives such as gluten free flours or cookies, unsweetened coconut flakes or dark chocolate dips.

· Attend a chocolate and wine pairing to learn more about how to bring out the best chocolates for which occasion.

· Ride the free chocolate tour at the one of the largest chocolate factories in the world located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Take a moment and shop at Hershey's Chocolate World and visit HersheyPark to ride the roller coasters.

· Try a new variety of chocolate. Milk, dark, white, or sweet chocolate are some of the more popular varieties sold. In addition, you can purchase those chocolate varieties with an infinite number of toppings or fillings.

Daily Devotions

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· 90 Days for our Nation, 54-day rosary-Day 52