A Life Without Possessions

July 31, 2022 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Readings for Today

Video “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”  Luke 12:15 Imagine what your life would be like if you had no possessions.  Imagine that all you had was the clothing you wore and you went through life relying upon the generosity of others.  Though, at first, this may seem like an irresponsible way to live, there are some who are called to a form of this life for a sacred reason.  Those called to strict religious life are called to embrace the life of poverty, owning nothing themselves, for a reason.  The reason is highlighted in this Gospel. Too often in life we become consumed with our possessions.  It’s true that material things can add “spice” to life.  They can be fun, entertaining, comforting, etc.  But the danger of becoming attached to the things of this world is that we begin to rely upon the pleasure they bring more than we rely upon the spiritual possessions which are of much greater value.  It’s not that material possessions are bad, in and of themselves; rather, it’s that the spiritual possessions God wants us to obtain are of infinitely greater value. Most are not called to live lives of material poverty, but all are called to live lives of poverty in spirit.  This means that, though we live in the world, we are not to be of the world.  We are to keep our hearts attached only to the greatest treasures of life: faith, hope and charity.  When greed and love of material possessions draw us from these spiritual treasures, we must recommit ourselves to the discovery of their great value. Reflect, today, upon any struggle you have with greed.  If that does not sit well with you and if you find yourself immediately trying to justify your attachment to material things, then you may need this reflection more than you know.  The Lord wants to give you so much more than this world can offer you.  Do not make the choice to become attached to that which is “cheap” from an eternal perspective.  Strive to embrace those true riches that will remain with you forever. Lord of true riches, help me to always keep my heart set on the riches You bestow and to never settle for those things that can never fully satisfy me.  I desire the wealth of Heaven, dear Lord, not the riches of Earth.  Help me to live the spiritual poverty I am called to live so as to obtain all that You desire for me.  Free me from greed and selfishness and help me to find true joy in Your holy will.  Jesus, I trust in You.

The Sad Fruit of Hate

July 30, 2022 Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial

Video “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”  Matthew 14:8 What a bad day to say the least.  St. John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of Salome, the daughter of Herodias.  John was in prison for speaking the truth to Herod regarding his marriage, and Herodias was filled with hate toward John.  So Herodias had her daughter dance in the presence of Herod and his guests.  Herod was so impressed, he promised Salome up to half of his kingdom.  Instead, her request was for the head of John the Baptist. Even on the surface this is a bizarre request.  Salome is promised up to half of the kingdom and, instead, she asks for the death of a good and holy man.  In fact, Jesus said of John that no one born of woman was greater than he was.  So why all the hate by Herodias and her daughter? This sad incident illustrates the power of anger in its most extreme form.  When anger brews and grows it causes deep passion, so much so that it clouds a person’s thinking and reason.  Hate and revenge can consume a person and lead to complete foolishness.  Herod is also a witness of extreme irrationality here.  He is pressured to do what he does not want to do because he is afraid of doing the right thing.  He is overwhelmed by the hate in the heart of Herodias and, as a result, gives in to the execution of John whom he actually appeared to like and enjoyed listening to. Normally we seek to be inspired by the good example of others.  But, in this case, we find we can be “inspired” in a different way.  We should use the witness of John’s execution as an opportunity to look at any struggles we have with anger, resentment and especially hate.  Hate is an ugly passion that can sneak in and cause much destruction in our lives and the lives of others.  Even the beginnings of this disordered passion should be confessed and overcome. Reflect, today, upon whether you see any hate in your heart.  Have you held on to some grudge or bitterness that is not going away?  Is that passion growing and causing damage to your life and the lives of others?  If so, resolve to let go of it and forgive.  It’s the right thing to do. My freeing Lord, give me the grace I need to look into my heart and see any tendencies of anger, resentment and hatred.  Please purify me of these and set me free.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Peut-on tomber enceinte en avalant du sperme?

Fab Fabrice

J’ai d’abord rigolé en voyant cette question, mais ensuite je me suis rappelé d’une histoire qui avait vachement tournée sur les réseaux il y a de cela quelques années.

Vous savez? le genre d’histoire qui circule avec un titre rocambolesque du genre:

Née sans vagin, elle tombe enceinte après une fellation!

Sauf que dans ce cas là c’est vrai!

En 1988 au Lesotho en Afrique, une jeune fille de 15ans est admise à l’hôpital pour des blessures très grave à l’abdomen. La pauvre gamine s’était retrouvée au milieu d’une rixe entre son ex et son nouveau mec et s’est pris 2 coups de couteau lui valant 10 jours d’hospitalisation.

9 Mois plus tard elle est prise de maux de ventre terrible et retourne donc à l’hosto. Les médecins lui annonce la bonne nouvelle: elle est enceinte et faut qu’elle accouche NOW (par césarienne)!

Elle avait beau s’arrondir de plus en plus depuis des mois, elle s’est pas trop posé de question, elle pensait peut-être souffrir d’une étrange constipation, on sait pas! Mais elle ne pouvait pas imaginer être enceinte vu qu\"elle est née sans vagin (aplasie vaginale distale me dit google)

"Comment que c’est il que c’est ce possible??" me dites vous !

Sciences et Avenir donne l’explication, rationnelle mais inattendue : avant d’être poignardée, la jeune fille a pratiqué une fellation à son petit ami. « Le sperme, contenu dans l’estomac perforé par l’arme blanche, est passé dans la cavité abdominale où il a ensuite gagné un des deux ovaires. Les spermatozoïdes ne peuvent survivre dans un environnement à faible pH, mais la salive a un pH élevé et l’estomac, vide, de la patiente n’avait pas un pH acide. Tout ceci a pu contribuer à la survie des gamètes mâles » argumente la revue scientifique.

Fallait y penser…

Familial Friendship with Jesus

July 29, 2022 Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus Readings for Today

Video “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:41–42 Today’s memorial was formerly a memorial only in honor of Saint Martha. However, on February 2, 2021, Pope Francis expanded this memorial to include Martha’s sister and brother, Mary and Lazarus. Thus, today we celebrate these three siblings together. Martha, Mary and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. They lived in Bethany, which was only a short distance from Jerusalem. Martha is remembered especially for the story in which she had been preparing a meal for Jesus, while her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him, leaving all the work to Martha. Martha complained to Jesus, urging Him to “Tell her to help me.” Jesus’ gentle rebuke of her request is quoted above. Mary is also known for the above story in which she sat at Jesus’ feet. This has traditionally been seen as a symbol of contemplative prayer. She is also presented in John’s Gospel as the one who poured an entire jar of expensive perfumed oil on Jesus’ feet and dried them with her hair just six days before Jesus’ death. Though medieval tradition has at times associated Mary of Bethany with Mary of Magdala and with the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36–50), most scholars agree today that these are three different Marys. In fact, one of the reasons Pope Francis added Mary of Bethany to this memorial today was so that she was honored with a liturgical memorial that did not confuse her with Mary of Magdala. Lazarus is, of course, well known for the fact that Jesus brought him back to life after being dead and in the tomb for four days. Little else is mentioned about Lazarus in the Gospels except for the fact that the Pharisees wanted to arrest Lazarus at the time they were also seeking to arrest Jesus and that he was the sibling of Martha and Mary. Why do we have this memorial honoring all three of these siblings together? When this memorial was established, the Congregation for Divine Worship said, “In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that he loved them.” By honoring these siblings together, we are especially reminded of the importance of remaining close to family and inviting Jesus into our family. Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived together and shared a common life of love. They invited Jesus into their family life, and He accepted their offer. Jesus’ choice to befriend this family is an indication of His desire to unite each family and to befriend each member of every family so as to be the central source of their shared love and unity. Family love is central to our human lives. And though not every family enjoys unity and mutual love, we must never forget that God wants to enter every family just as He did with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Reflect, today, upon your own family. In which ways does Jesus desire to befriend you more? How does He desire to enter your family life and strengthen it with His love? And how does He want to use you to help? Even if your family struggles in various ways, know that God wants to love you and your family in the same way He did the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Though they were not perfect, He loved them nonetheless. And He desires to do the same to you and your family.  My loving Jesus, You chose to love the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In doing so, You also reveal to us Your desire to love all families with a holy love. I invite You into my life and into my family, dear Lord. Please strengthen our bonds, bring unity and mutual respect. Please remove any past hurt and division and enable every family to share more fully in Your friendship and love. Jesus, I love You.  Jesus, I trust in You.

The Justice of God

July 28, 2022 Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Video “Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”  Matthew 13:49-50 Not all that inspiring of a statement at first read, is it?  But it should be inspiring in the way that it was intended.  It was intended to put a certain “holy fear” in us as well as reassure us of God’s justice.  This is inspiring, just not in the usual way we think of being inspired. But sometimes we need a little holy fear of God and His justice in our lives.  In our day and age sin is becoming continually more accepted and “normal.”  Our worldwide culture seems to be growing steadily more secular.  Immoral living of many types appears to be on the rise.  As a result, it is easy for us to start seeing sin as normal and even acceptable.  In fact, when we name sin as sin, our world often calls us judgmental and hateful.   If you find yourself at times feeling pressured to give in to the immorality all around you and just “accept it,” then perhaps the passage above will inspire you to do just the opposite.  The absolute truth is that Jesus has named some things as sin and committing those sins brings grave consequences.   It could be the very subtle cultural practice of turning the Lord’s Day (Sunday) into anything but a day of rest.  Or it could be grave violations to the sanctity of married and family life through the redefinition of marriage.  Each of us will certainly notice various ways in which we feel our faith is challenged and even attacked.  If that’s you, then this Scripture is for you.  Jesus is serious about sin and the consequences of sin.  That should inspire us to not only live holy lives, but also to do all we can to assist those caught up in the disordered cultural tendencies to change their lives. Reflect, today, on how strongly you are opposed to sin.  Sin is evil and destructive.  You must always love the person who commits sin, but you ought never offer support or approval for their actions that are contrary to the law of God.  Standing strong in the face of cultural opposition is a great act of love and may free some, one day, from the “wailing and grinding of teeth” of which Jesus spoke. My gracious Lord, where sin abounds grace abounds all the more.  Your grace is so needed today in our world and in my life.  Help me to stay strong in my opposition to evil and sin so as to be among those who are gathered into Your Kingdom.  Give me courage to do all I can to help those on the path of destruction.  Jesus, I trust in You.

The Pearl of Great Price

July 27, 2022 Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Video “Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.  When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”  Matthew 13:45-46 There are many beautiful insights we can take from this passage.  Certainly we can see the Kingdom of Heaven as analogous to that “Pearl of Great Price!”  But the passage actually states that the Kingdom of Heaven is analogous to the “merchant searching for fine pearls.”  This is a revealing fact. One insight this offers us is that the Kingdom of Heaven is found in our diligent search.  We search the mystery of Heaven and it is this search that, in and of itself, presents to us God’s Kingdom.   Speaking of the “search for God” is another way of saying that God is a profound Mystery of Faith, a Mysterium Fidei as we say in Mass.  As a divine “Mystery” it’s important to understand that we can never fully “find” God.  We certainly can find Him, understand Him, come to know Him and give our lives to Him.  But we can never do so fully.  The truth is that the more we come to know God, the more we seek Him and the more we seek Him the more we realize we do not fully know Him.  But this revelation draws us ever more deeply into the life of God and the acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven. The discovery of the beauty, value, mystery, power, and glory of God and His Kingdom is what life must be about.  We must spend this life searching, finding, and searching more.  This is what we will do in Heaven.  Heaven will be a moment of the full revelation of the Kingdom and the inner life of God, but we will discover in this revelation that we will eternally enter more deeply into God and His glorious presence. Reflect, today, upon the search that you embark on in your life.  Is it a diligent search for God?  Or do you grow slack in this endeavor?  Recommit yourself to a wholehearted search for God and you will find that this search is actually a discovery of the glories of the Kingdom of Heaven. My eternal King, I love You and desire to love You all the more.  Please fill me with zeal and hope as I seek You.  May my wholehearted search for You reveal to me the mystery of Your glorious inner life.  As I discover You, help me to seek You all the more.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Final Victory!

July 26, 2022 Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saints Joachim and Anne—Memorial

Video “Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”  Matthew 13:40-43 Imagine that day!  Imagine if that day were tomorrow.  If Jesus were returning tomorrow and executing all justice upon the world, would you worry about any injustice today?  Probably not.  Instead, there would be an ability to sit back and be at peace knowing that justice was coming.   Well, that day is coming soon.  That’s what Jesus said.  Granted, that was said almost 2,000 years ago, but for Him it is still soon.  Time, for God, takes on an eternal perspective.  Therefore, the end of the world is as real for God today as it is when it actually happens. This is a good thing to keep in mind when we see evil thrive and injustice grow.  It’s so very easy to get angry and upset about the daily victories of the evil one.  But fear not and worry not.  God truly is in control.  He knows what He is doing and He will have the final glorious victory over all things.   So think about that.  When Jesus does return in all His glory and sets all things right, will the evil we now endure even matter?  In fact, from the eternal perspective, the evil we endure should only serve to give us holy endurance.  It has all potential to be used by God to manifest His grace and strength in our lives.   Reflect, today, upon the eternal perspective.  If you persevere through all things now, and you strive to do so with patience and grace, you can be certain that all the struggle and all you have to endure will be worth it in the end.  In the new glorious Kingdom of God you will be at peace, and joy will fill your life forever.  Every wrong will be made right and God will be victorious.  Make sure you have “ears to hear” this truth and hold on to it through all things. My eternal Lord, help me to keep my eyes on You and Your final victory.  Help me to patiently await Your final victory and to endure the evil of this world with the grace and strength You give me.  May I never forget the final promise that You have spoken to me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Christ’s Chalice

July 25, 2022 Feast of Saint James, Apostle Readings for Today

Video “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”  Matthew 20:22b-23 This was a very gentle rebuke by Jesus.  The mother of James and John asked Jesus for a favor.  She wanted her sons to sit at His right and left in His Kingdom.  Jesus gently said, “You do not know what you are asking” and then went on to speak the passage above. “You do not know what you are asking.”  Why did Jesus say this?  In part, it’s because the path to glory, that is, the path to sitting at His right and left in the Kingdom, is the path of the Cross.  It’s the path of freely embracing the sufferings of the Cross with Jesus.  It’s not possible to enter into His glory without first walking with Him through His death. So He asks these Apostles, “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”  In other words, can you embrace my Cross?  Can you embrace my suffering?  Can you walk with me through my ultimate sacrifice and participate in that sacrifice by also offering your lives? The Apostles affirm that they can and, indeed, they eventually do follow Jesus in His sacrifice by giving themselves completely to others.  Can you drink that chalice?  Can you willingly accept the Cross in your life?  Can you endure hardship, sacrifice and, perhaps, even persecution for being a follower of Jesus?  Can you walk with Him through His suffering?  If the answer is “Yes,” then you will share in His glory.  Perhaps that glory will not be to sit at His right and left, but it will be a glory beyond your wildest imagination.  It’s worth it and it’s an invitation that you will never regret accepting. Lord, I do desire to drink the chalice You drank.  I desire to receive Your Precious Body and Blood and in that reception to receive the strength and grace I need to follow You in Your sufferings.  As I follow You in Your sufferings, help me also to share in Your glory.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Praying for the Will of God

July 24, 2022 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Readings for Today

Video “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Luke 11:9 If we were to take this statement of Jesus in a very literal way we could easily conclude that Jesus will give us anything we ask for in a prayerful way.  But we know this is not what happens.  Perhaps everyone has prayed hard for this or that and the request was not answered in the way we wanted.  Why is that?  Did we simply fail to pray with faith?  Will Jesus do whatever we ask of Him when we pray for it with all our might?  Certainly not. This passage goes on to say, “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13).  Within this context, and within the context of everything that Jesus has taught us, it’s important to know that there is one thing and one thing only for which we ought to pray.  And when we pray for this one thing, we can be assured of obtaining it when we pray for it in faith.  What is that one thing?  It’s the will of God. If we sincerely and wholeheartedly ask for and seek the will of God, we can be certain that our Lord will give us the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit will, in turn, lead us into the will of God for our lives.  The problem is that too often we end up praying that “MY will be done” rather than “THY will be done.”  This is an important difference. True prayer is ultimately about trust and surrender to God.  We trust in His perfect plan and surrender to that perfect plan in our lives.  When we do this, we can be assured that the Lord will hear and answer this perfect prayer. Reflect, today, upon that simple prayer in the Lord’s Prayer: Thy will be done!  Strive to trust in God’s perfect plan for your life and do all you can to surrender to it.  With this form of prayer we can be assured that the Holy Spirit will come to us, leading us into His holy will. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Jesus, I trust in You.

The Evil All Around Us

July 23, 2022 Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious—Optional Memorial

Video “Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”  Matthew 13:30  The evil all around us should be apparent to those with the eyes of faith.  We only need to compare all that our Lord has revealed to us through the Scripture and the Church to the various values and opinions of the world.  When we do so, we will be struck with the stark contrast between them. Using the image of this parable, it would be like the farmer who goes out to check on his crop of wheat.  As he does, he sees the weeds intermingled with the wheat.  Though he sees both growing together, he is also aware of the fact that he cannot eliminate the weeds without pulling up the wheat.  So instead of worrying about the growth of weeds, he puts his eyes on harvest time when the wheat will be harvested for good and the weeds will be gathered and burned. So it must be with our lives.  We will easily be tempted to despair if we become fixated upon the evil within our world.  We shouldn’t ignore it, but we ought not to become overly concerned about it.  This is only possible if we, like the farmer, keep our eyes upon “harvest time.”  The great harvest we anticipate is the moment of divine justice when God rights every wrong and sorts out the good from the bad.  Justice will prevail in the end even though it may not be readily apparent here and now. Reflect, today, upon any ways that you find yourself affected by the evils of our world.  Perhaps the constant stream of bad news in the media gets you down.  Or, perhaps you encounter various evils in your daily life from others.  Whatever the case may be, do not be shocked or scandalized by the attacks of the evil one.  Keep your eyes fixed on our Lord and have full confidence in His divine justice to come. Lord of all justice, I trust in Your promise of fidelity in all things.  As I see and experience various evils in this world, help me to never fall into their trap or lure.  Free me from doubt and despair and give me perfect hope in Your promise of justice and mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Clinging to Jesus

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July 22, 2022 Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Readings for Today

Video “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”  John 20:15b-17b What a privilege!  Mary Magdalene was the first person recorded in Scripture to see the risen Lord, and there is no doubt that many would have concluded that she was the most unworthy person to receive such a blessing. Scripture states that Mary Magdalene was the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. Clearly, one who was possessed by seven demons had lived a sinful life. But after encountering our Lord, Mary became His faithful follower, being one of the holy women to daily serve and care for His needs.  For that reason, we now call her “saint.”  But this passage above tells us even more about Jesus and His mercy. This passage is taken from the account of Jesus’ Resurrection.  Mary had gone to the tomb only to find it empty.  She sat there weeping thinking that someone took Jesus’ body away.  But suddenly, before her eyes, Jesus was there and alive.  His words were piercing and profound.  He said, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”  There are two things to say about this passage. First, it was indeed a wonderful blessing that Jesus appeared to her first.  This sinful woman was now the first witness and first messenger to the Resurrection.  This tells us that Jesus does not discriminate against us because of our past sins.  He does not have a long memory holding us forever accountable for what we’ve done in the past.  His forgiveness is absolute when given and it completely restores us to grace if we are open.  This is what happened with Mary.  Jesus chose her, this formerly sinful woman, to be His first witness of His Resurrection. Secondly, this passage reveals that Jesus does want us to cling to Him, just not in a purely human way.  Mary had come to know Jesus on Earth and now Jesus wanted to deepen His bond with her once He ascended into Heaven.  At that time, He wanted to be more than just physically present, He wanted to dwell within her soul and unite Himself to her, and to us, in the most intimate and profound way.   Reflect, today, upon the desire in the Heart of our Lord that we cling to Him in Heaven.  Hear Him say to you, “I have now ascended to my Father and I invite you to cling to me with your whole heart.  Let me in and allow me to dwell within you in all intimacy.  I love you and want to be one with you.  Will you let me into your heart?” Lord, I do want to cling to You.  I do choose to be one with You in every way.  Come live in my heart and make me one with You.  Jesus, I trust in You.