Directions (2023-10-29, 30th Sun)

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●  Homily file for October 29, 2023 ●   30^th Sunday     ● Exodus 22:20-26 ● Psalm 18 ● 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 ●  Matthew 22:34-40 ●  

Title:   Directions.

[_01__]       Once upon a time, I frequently called up friends and family for “driving directions”. Don’t you remember calling up – even “dialing” the phone – before you went somewhere for the Exit number on the parkway or the streets to get to places like "Our Lady of Lourdes."?

However, these days, do you make fewer calls like this?  I make fewer calls, for 2 reasons. I am a more experienced drivers and I can hear and see the navigation in the car, or “GPS”. The computer is the companion I depend on and trust in.

 

[_02__]  Thank you for hearing and making the call! To you the families who have heard God’s call and given directions to your young people to directed them to 1^st Holy Communion Day, for nurturing and support them and bringing them to church.

          Today is 1^st Holy Communion day for - our young people....

They have followed directions to reach this encounter with our Lord and Savior.

[_03__]    In this Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was asked for “directions”: “which commandment is the greatest?”

          Jesus summarizes all the commandments into 1 direction, 1 instruction:  to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments, all the law and the prophets find their foundation.

          Also, our love is based on what and whom we know and sharing a common destination.

          [**** PAUSE ****]

Recently, I traveled with my parents to medical appointment at a doctor’s office in NYC.   The destination was familiar. I’ve been there before. Yet, due to NY rush hour and GWB bridge traffic, it often feels that I have never done this before.  My father, travelling with me in the passenger seat was my navigator. He knew which toll plaza to go through, which lane to be in, when to slow down, and when to speed up. I didn’t need GPS. I had my father.

[_04__]     This experience is my analogy for the concept of love. Love is not just a theoretical idea or an emotion; it involves listening to someone who genuinely cares for you and imparts wisdom, even when you believe you already know.  I usually knew what lane to be in – my father knew that I knew … but it is an act of love both to provide and receive guidance.

Now to you -- our young people....-- is this familiar? Would your mother or mother or grandparents tell you what you think you already know, and tell you repetitively? That's love. That's what love is sometimes Jesus in the Gospel is speaking about love, as it was taught to him by his own father.

Teaching us to pray, , Jesus emphasizes that he and you and I all have the same Father, -- "Our Father who art in heaven."

Jesus's teachings on love stem from the love he learned from his Father. Our struggle to understand both God and our parents was stated by a 20^th century priest from England, Father Ronald Knox, who suggests that we should not wait to understand our fathers before understanding God. Rather, by learning to know God, we gain insight into our parents and the love they offer.

[_05__]      Holy Communion is the God's sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for our salvation. In John 3:16, we read, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that all who believe in Him might not perish but might have eternal life."

This divine love, initiated in the original covenant with Abraham and Moses, extends to all of Israel and to the entire world. It is a love that transcends borders, latitude, longitude, GPS.

 

The ongoing conflicts in regions Israel and Palestine will not be resolved by ceasefires, boundaries, or the defeat of enemies. The solution is knowing God, loving Him, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. And, loving our enemies – not just “tolerating” enemies Love is not about uniform actions, but a shared destination – to reach heaven and experience it on Earth.

[_05__]       What is the connection between the directions and disciplines of Mass and Holy Communion and everyday life? I’d like to touch on the Catholic tradition of fasting before Holy Communion, à a 1-hour fast from food before. While fasting for a longer period can be spiritually beneficial, 1 hour is the rule. Why ?

          When we receive Holy Communion at the end of Mass, we may feel physical hunger, both individually and as a community.

This hunger reminds us of our need for nourishment, both physical and spiritual. We also experience hunger while praying, making petitions, and seeking God's guidance. Fasting during prayer also connects us to those in need of our prayers.

Recently, Pope Francis encouraged us to fast for peace on October 17  and this past Friday (10/27), emphasizing the power of fasting in promoting peace.

Fasting is challenging, but unites us in solidarity to those in need. We train our bodies and minds, by giving up food which is good, technology/media which is good, or just giving my opinion too often (clearly, my opinion =  good!)

During the fast, we make room for listening and prayer. We fast from the good to avoid the truly bad, and fasting extends our time of prayer, ensuring we remember the focus of our prayers.

Leaving the church, you don't have to leave spiritually hungry, but you may still feel physically hungry. This hunger should remind us to turn to our Lord and Savior for daily guidance and nourishment through His mercy and love. We partake in the body of Christ and savor every word that flows from the mouth of God. This is our spiritual GPS, leading us toward our ultimate destination. The Word of the Lord, the body of Christ – amen.  [_END__]   

Paying Taxes (2023-10-22, Sunday 29th)

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 Homily file for October 22, 2023   ___ 29^th Sunday     ● Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 ● Psalm 96 ● 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b ●  Matthew 22:15-21  ●  

Title: Paying Taxes

 

[_01__]   Jesus, in this Gospel encounter with 2 of his adversaries – the Pharisees and Herodians successfully avoids being “tackled” / arrested by their strategy and question about paying taxes to the Roman Empire, to “Caesar”, or not.

          Jesus holds up a coin, showing Caesar, and says…sure, pay taxes to Caesar, in other words, take care of your material and earthly responsibilities, but also render unto God what belongs to God.

[_02__]   A few years after my friend, N._____, got married, he asked his wife what she wanted for her birthday. She said I want a card with words.

          So, he went out, bought a Hallmark card, signed his “Love, N.______” name put in an envelope and gave it to his wife. His wife was thoroughly displeased. Not happy on her birthday.

          No, she said, I want your words, not the Hallmark words.
          Sometimes, we may get the incorrect idea that we can make ourselves happy or others happy only by doing the material things correctly or checking boxes.

          And , is it not true that you – as a parent, or teacher or anyone who is responsibility for someone else are called to deliver more than material goods.

          EXAMPLE – Many years ago, when I first started at the seminary, going to the seminary was a big change in my. I was very aware of all the material changes I had made, I moved out of the place where I lived, put all my things into boxes, moved them there, move some stuff to my parents house, quit, left my job, all the people I knew.

There was a priest in my parish, who was part of this journey from my “old life” to “new life”. Very early in the 1^st semester, in the fall semester, I saw him, he asked me how I was doing. I said, everything's going well so far. And he said to me, but “I hope so because nothing has happened yet.”

I was taken aback insulted by this remark. But he had a point in that I really only done a few material things so far. I had not yet put my own calling into words, I had only signed the card, I had not put my own calling into words yet.

[_03__]     The message of the gospel is that God has a deadline. And it is somewhat similar to a “tax” or system of “taxation”. How is discipleship similar to a paying taxes?

Why is discipleship like paying taxes?    It's not because there's a tax return or there's forms to fill out or the signatures of the IRS.

It's similar to a tax because it is based on what we have. As Jesus says in the Gospel, those who to whom much is given, much will be expected.

And discipleship is also about making a payment and observing a schedule…. the reality of a deadline, and also the reality of an extension.

I'm aware that I don't always deliver to God, or love my neighbor, how and when I am supposed to do so. And in this regard, sometimes I don't meet the deadline. And when I fail to act justly, in a truly timely manner, than justice delayed is justice denied by me, James Ferry.

I may miss the deadline. But the Lord also generously offers us extensions beyond the deadline, to repent, to reform, to go to confession, to start over. And to recognize that the Lord does ask us sometimes, he may ask us for more than we think we can give.

But also he will reward us more than we can expect. Any one of us may feel stretched, taxed, stressed out, pushed beyond our limits, and to ask the question, what really belongs to me?

That's the question. That's the tax question. That's a financial question what belongs to me what am I owe the government on?

But it's also the question that God is asking us to consider what belongs to you and it to recognize that everything we have first comes from God and we're called to give ourselves back to God in love of God and love of neighbor.

[_03__]      Several years ago, a priest who had educated me the seminary retired. His name was Father Robert and he was very intellectually bright in Latin and Greek, but what I also knew him for was his hard-working devotion to his parish.

Once, on a Sunday morning after Mass, he went to a parishioners house with his tool box or tool belt, to fix the broken garage door that would not close properly. This was an example to me of the crossover between “Ceasar” and “God”

When he retired at age 71, he moved to a new rectory where there was much work to be done on the floors, the walls, painting, etc. At 71 years old and retired, he really did not have to give back anything to “Caesar” in that he did not have to run his parish administratively, but only be a chaplain and priest and be available to people.

But he believed in the “hybrid” or “cross over of material and spiritual responsibilties.”

Does this cross-over and hybrid reality not exist for you, as a parent, as a mother, father, as a teacher, as anyone who is caring for someone else?

If you accompany, take a loved one to the doctor or the hospital, this often involves “rendering unto Caesar” by handing over the $25 co-pay and filling out all the forms …but also involves “rendering unto God” by being present to someone whom you love.

When Father Robert got to his new rectory where he was to retire, he knew the  knew the rectory/house needed repairs. He knew the place the plan was to fix up the building the rectory the room that he was in, but there were also limited parish funds to do.  One day, the pastor pulled up a carpet in the room of his residence. This revealed that the floor was kind of messed up underneath the carpet. There were dozens or hundreds of little nails sticking out from the hardwood. This was kind of dangerous. The pastor assured Father Robert that this would be fixed the floor would be fixed or re carpeted or something.

Within an hour, however, Father Robert, however, took out his own pliers, removed every single nail personally and made the floor smooth.

I think he financially saved the parish a few dollars.

We live in a broken world in which we are often cynical about taxes, taxation, government funding and getting what we deserve.

Jesus himself was aware of the hypocrisy of the question about paying taxes and whether one can achieve “salvation” and “security” by doing only one or the other. The call is to do both.

But, in giving back to God, we are also following in Jesus’ footsteps – who creates and a new law and a new order , he made the payment on the Cross before we even got here and reminds us to love God and love our neighbor with a hopeful attitude, not as a penalty from God but as a reminder to give back for what we have been received. By our actions by our acts of contrition and sorrow, by what we choose lovingly to do and lovingly to avoid, we can render to God what belongs to God, thus receive a greater return both in heaven and on earth.  [_END__]    

Help Me Get One More. (2023-10-15, Sunday, 28th)

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Homily file for October 15, 2023  28^th Sunday    ● Isaiah 25:6-10a ● Psalm 23 ● Philippians 4:12-14 19-20 ●  Matthew 22:1-14  ●

Title:     Help Me Get One More.

 [_01__]    One of the rules of the Uniform Code of Military Justice – the rules in the U.S. Military – is that commanding officers will be court – martialed – prosecuted for negligence if they send one of their soldiers into battle without being properly armed – without proper weapon and clothing, what they wear for protection.

          Nevertheless, just having the clothing and weapon externally is no guarantee that they will know how to fight.

          The person/soldier is called to fight

          Jesus – in founding his church and calling us to be his disciples is not training us for physical aggression but still calling us to fight for what is good.

          I am guilty at times of not knowing how to fight or or withdrawing from a fight or…. Maybe just not fighting with humility.

          The other day at an awards ceremony for West Orange High School and their Hall of Fame, one of the Hall of Fame inductees said she learned lessons in school here in West Orange that helps her in her advocacy for the hungry, the homeless, the marginalized. She said that when she was in school she not only learned to fight for what was good, but also simply to FIGHT.

This touched a guilty chord in me …reminding me of an incident in which some neighborhood tough guys were harassing and beating up my little brother. I was a kid myself and recall being scared to fight…but this was my younger brother..

I am not advocating physical aggression, but saying we learn when we are young about what to fight for and whom to fight for.

 [_03__]   On a more positive note, I also recall …. I recall my parents teaching me how to fight, not through physical aggression but even by how they communicated with each other. My mother once said to me, “I have had to learn how to fight with your father….” My parents have been married more than 55 years. They are still fighting for each other… sometimes even with each other. Fight.

          This Gospel parable about being “dressed” properly in the wedding garment is not only about external vestments or attire, but also about internal DESIRE and faith.

          Sometimes, I fight for the wrong things …or fight only out of arrogance.

          Jesus wants us to be prepared for our battles with humility. I need more humility which also a virtue or to use a popular term – true humility is a superpower.

Augustine suggests, it's not just about what one is wearing; it's about whether one has a clean conscience and a pure heart. The wedding garment symbolizes purity of heart.  We cannot rely on anyone else's pure heart; we must cultivate our own, thus to confess our sins.

As a priest, I of course, cannot offer you new clothing … still less any physical devices, but it is my calling to hear your confession and share God’s mercy in the Gospel with you.

          I go to confession myself to have a clean conscience and clean heart, as we read in Psalm 51. A humble contrite heart O God you will not spurn.

          By a formal act of Contrition, we also acknowledge that Jesus has conquered sin and while others might be justifiably upset at something I have done wrong, I can also go to confession to get God’s “approval” but to get God’s perspective and thus not to be defeated by my sins, selfishness, arrogance.

          I.e., put on the wedding garment of a clean conscience, to pray also that I will know what is truly good.

This is a time of great instability in the world, and it's a reminder that we must strive to be in a state of grace. Our faith teaches us to love God and our neighbors and to stand up for the defenseless and the marginalized.

 [_05__]     In 2016, there was a Hollywood movie about a soldier who went into battle without a regular rifle / weapon.

His name was Desmond Doss and there is a 2016 movie – Hacksaw Ridge – about his life The time was 1945, Battle of Okinawa, World War 2.

          The Army commanding officers themselves questioned the patriotism and mental health / sanity of Desmond  who was willing to go into battle without a weapon.

Desmond was not a regular soldier but a  medic – an “EMT” on the battefield. Usually, medics/EMT’s carry a rifle, for protection. Desmond – based on his religious beliefs – refused to carry a rifle.

This decision was a testament to protecting life whenever possible.

In the Battle of Okinawa, HOWEVER,  Desmond was very courageous. He ventured into enemy territory to rescue an astonishing 75 soldiers by himself. Desmond was a hero, heroic, and was awarded prestigious medals, including the Bronze Star and the Medal of Honor. Desmond was committed to saving lives, based on the inherent value of every individual.

In the movie, we hear the real-life words and prayer of Desmond, over and over again,   "Lord, help me get one more, help me save one more,"

Remarkably, Desmond even rescued wounded Japanese soldiers and sending them to U.S. Army hospitals.

 [_07__]       Desmond's choices parallel Catholic Just War Doctrine, framework for determining the ethical justifiability of going to war and guiding the conduct of war once it has begun. At its core, the Catholic Just War Doctrine – JUSTICE IN WARTIME ---  emphasizes that war must be waged for a just cause and must meet certain criteria, including the principle of discrimination in the use of force.

Desmond 's actions, while not a “policy”, align with discrimination.

Discrimination    (does not mean “ethnic / racial” prejudice) but rather a discriminating / differentiating between combatants and non-combatants, between ”soldiers” and “civilians” ensuring that non-combatants are not deliberately targeted.  Right now, in the terrorist incursion of Hamas, non-combatants – civilians - were deliberately targeted.

Discrimination   also means caring for everyone in real need.  In a brutal battle, Desmond gave medical care to wounded soldiers, regardless of which “side / nationality” allies or enemies. He testified to the inherent value of every person.

It is paradoxical that we often can see the inherent value of every person when that dignity is violated.

In a Good Friday sermon, Pope Benedict XVI (B16) observed that a frequent response to terrorism and similar tragedies is to conclude, “God does not exist.”  But among those who are immersed in the tragedy and reality, the effect is just the opposite. It is no accident that faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit flows from – not a championship or gold medal – but from the “victory” of “head sore wounded” (“sacred head surrounded”) from a crucified man. He is our role model not only for worship/prayer in our own Gardens of Gethsemane but also in work/practice. Yes, there is the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist,and there is Christ present in the downtrodden, the hostage or the homeless. Every good gift is on loan from God. (Benedict XVI, “Good Friday”, Dogma and Preaching, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2011, pp. 289-290)

We are called to respect and cherishing the sanctity of life and all lives.  Pray, Fast.

Fasting means to give up something that's good – maybe a form of food, drink, entertainment. But when we give up something that's good, we are extending our time of prayer. 1 thing that's easiest to forget, as soon as we walk out of this church, I forget it myself, is to forget what I we prayed for. Or we forget whom we were praying for. But by fasting, we are extending our time of prayer. And we're reminded that we're praying, if you're a little bit irritated during the fast it reminds you that you're still praying and that you're trusting in God. So one of the things we can do for the people of Israel for all those who are suffering for the for the victims, is to pray and fast.

Pray and fast for peace and for all the victims. God is with us. Pray and fast for the all world leaders, in the Middle East, here at home and abroad.   Fight for the defenseless. Lord. help us get one more. [_END__]

Flipped (2023-10-08, Sunday 27th)

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Homily file for October 8, 2023 __  27^th Sunday  __  ● Isaiah 5:1-7 ● Psalm 80 ● Philippians 4:6-9 ● Matthew 21:33-43  ●

 Title:  Flipped Classroom, Spiritual Context  

 [_00__]     How do we use the word flip? Spelled F-as in Frank, L – eye  - P. we use the word flip to refer to a reverse of something, we flip a coin from heads to tails, or we flip something over to see what is inside.

[_01__]     Have you ever heard of a "Flipped Classroom" as a way to describe a new approach to teaching / education / school?  The Flipped Classroom is a turnaround in teaching with a focus on the students.

 Jesus's Sacrificial Mission

One aspect of this turnaround – in the Gospel and in our faith – is Jesus's willingness to turn himself around and over ….in exchange and even give up his life for us as sinners. His sacrifice – his death and resurrection – and our hope of eternal life is the foundation of our faith.

He is the ultimate example of turning around the environment, for our benefit.

 Rejecting Misinterpretations  What parable does not say. This parable is not intended to elevate one group over another or suggest that the Jewish people missed out on the Messiah. In fact, Jesus, his disciples, and the early church were predominantly of Jewish ethnicity and faith. Jesus himself came to fulfill the Law of Moses and the prophets, and many significant figures in his life and ministry were Jewish.

 

The Universal Rejection

All of us, regardless of our background, have, at some point, rejected Jesus as the Messiah in one way or another. This parable serves as a reminder of our shared human experience of rejection.

 

The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard

In this parable, Jesus turns things around by demonstrating that the tenants represent all of us. We each have our "vineyard," which symbolizes various aspects of our lives, such as our homes, children, marriages, relationships, or workplaces. God calls us to listen to His guidance and produce what He desires in our lives.

 

at times, we, too, resist receiving messages or being interrupted in our lives.

 

Embracing Divine Interruptions

Consider how we typically react to interruptions in our daily lives. For example, a friend shared a story about making a medical appointment. While he knew the date, time, and location of the appointment, he received a cascade of reminders via text, email, and phone calls. These messages annoyed him because he preferred handling things his way. It's a common human reaction to reject certain messages or reminders, even if they are valuable.

When it comes to receiving God's Word into our lives, we may not receive texts, emails, or phone calls from God, but we are reminded that there is always a divine message coming to us. This reminder becomes evident when we make the sign of the cross, symbolizing that God's Word is not not only be told to us but actively pressed into us body and mind and soul.

 

Also, by choosing – for example – to come to church on Sundays and to make time in prayer, we can come to realize that we really do need regular reminders to live our lives with honesty and love and sacrifice and humility. We also need to see others in their struggle to do he same. We are in this together.

 

Embracing Humility and Sacrifice

St. Teresa of Lisieux, a Carmelite sister from the late 1800s, wrote abou the importance of humility and self-sacrifice.  Her attitude, at times, was somewhat similar to the tenants in the vineyard who were rejecting God’s interventions.  St. Therese admitted she struggled with patience toward her fellow sisters, she realized that it was not enough to merely tolerate interruptions. Instead, she chose to welcome and even seek out interruptions. This perspective challenges us to see interruptions as opportunities for growth and involvement in God's plan.

 

In the quote unquote flipped-classroom, the desks are not on the ceiling, but the students actively involved in the learning process.  Listening the parables, you and I are meant to identify and consider is the person in the parable representative of me or someone in my life? In this regard, the Word of God comes into your mind, my mind.

 

 

The Unexpected Twist

The parable of the tenants takes a surprising turn when the vineyard owner becomes frustrated with the tenants' disregard for his investment and messages. In a bold move, he decides to send his son to them, hoping that they will listen to him. This decision is remarkable because it involves significant risk; he's sending his SON into a perilous situation.

Similarly, God sends Jesus as the divine Son to us, even when we sometimes ignore Him. Jesus has life taken from him for our salvation.

He is the stone rejected by the builders and has become the cornerstone.   It is wonderful in our eyes    . [_END__]    

Coming Home. 2 Sons. Vineyard. (2023-10-01) 26th Sunday

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 Homily file for October 1, 2023  --  26^th Sunday ● Ezekiel 18:25-28 ●    ● Psalm ● Philippians 2:1-11 ● Matthew 21:28-32  ●   Title:  Coming Home.

[_01__]   During my brother's teenage years, when he was about 15 years old, he decided to run away from home, an act made possible by his invincible confidence, the poise that some teenagers possess. He had this confidence.

My parents, OTOH, were composed, not flustered feeling the phase would not last. They were correct. In about 12 hours, my brother was back.

The catalyst for this suburban drama was likely a typical teenage rebellion, perhaps about grades, homework, or curfew. Regardless of the trigger, his escape was brief. While he was confident, my parents were equally confident in his return.

 

[_02__]   In the parable, there is also some “coolness” and confidence. The father, with tranquility, instructs his 2 sons to "go and work in my vineyard." He doesn't engage in arguments or raise his voice; he merely issues the directive. This was a talk, not a text.

One son outwardly refused but had a change of heart, returning home to diligently work. The other son agreed with an enthusiastic "YES", but reneged on his commitment.

 [_03__]   Is it challenging to communicate our desires or needs to others in a calm and collected manner? Our lives, be it in the workplace, managing our calendar, or maintaining our home, can be chaotic and overwhelming.  Finding the time to be a a  “cool” Jedi fighter from the Star Wars universe can seem like an insurmountable task especially when the Stormtroopers are coming at you.

As adults, it can also be a daunting task to impart responsibilities to our children. They may rebel or reject our guidance, but it's crucial to persist in our efforts to guide them.

To the young people among us, whether girls or boys, young women or men, you are well aware that your parents provide you with of instructions:

- The importance of diligently doing your homework.

- Keeping your room clean and organized.

- Not succumbing to the allure of staying up all night, glued to your phone.

- Assisting in the kitchen and with household chores.

These instructions are not intended to stifle your freedom but to enhance it. They empower you to exercise your free will and develop your inner strength. For instance, if you can learn, under your parents' guidance, to reduce your reliance on your phone and social media, you can experience more meaningful connections with your family, friends, and teachers. Engaging in real-life conversations fosters personal growth, making you more resilient and spiritually attuned.

 [_04__]   This extends to your parents' instruction to attend church and Sunday Mass. The requirement to go to Mass is not punishment but a gift—a gift of time spent together, with your loved ones and with God. It's a way to establish and strengthen a connection, to remind you of the love that surrounds you, and to demonstrate that forgiveness is always within reach, even when others may reject you.

Your prayers and needs, as children attending Mass, are just as significant as those of the adults. This shared experience deepens the bond within your family and reinforces your sense of belonging within your faith community.

 [_05__]   Pope Francis recently celebrated an extraordinary example of love and devotion to God. One of the roles of the Pope is to beatify and canonize individuals who exemplify holiness. For the first time in history, an entire family—a mother, father, and seven children—were beatified together. They are the Ulma family, who lived in Poland during the tumultuous period of World War II.

Poland, during World War II, witnessed a tragic decline in its Jewish population due to the intentional and brutal taking of Jewish lives in the Holocaust (Shoah) by the Nazi regime. Amidst this devastation, stories of resilience and compassion emerged, including that of the Ulma family. Pope John Paul II often spoke of his Jewish friends in Warsaw, underscoring the deep Jewish-Catholic connections that persevered despite the divisive Nazi regime.

The Ulma family's story is a response to God's call. They did not defy instructions when sent into the metaphorical vineyard. Instead, they wholeheartedly committed themselves to sheltering and protecting the persecuted. Their actions speak volumes about the importance of turning belief into action, emphasizing the essence of genuine commitment.

The Ulma family, devout Catholics, boldly stood against the brutal Nazi regime by providing refuge to Jewish children and adults in their own home.

Their courageous act of compassion was eventually discovered, leading to their martyrdom. Their love transcended boundaries, treating their Jewish neighbors not as "others" but as part of their own family.

 [_06__]   The Ulma family reminds us, especially on Respect Life Sunday, of the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The beatification of the unborn child of the Ulma family underscores the inherent value of every life.

 While most of us may never encounter the extreme circumstances faced by the Ulma family, we confront choices in our daily lives. Do we prioritize personal comfort and convenience, effectively running away from our responsibilities? Or do we choose compassion and selflessness, coming home to our commitments?

          Is my affirmations of goodness a superficial "YES",? Or do I actively pursue righteousness through ,my actions? The answers may be uncomfortable, but they matter.

 [_07__]    Compassion and selflessness are qualities worth celebrating, as Pope Francis did for the Ulma family. Yet, in the real-life complexity, these virtues may not always yield rewards we expect or visualize. On Good Friday, Jesus, in an act of profound compassion, was crucified. At 1^st, it is a sad ending, accentuated by the presence of very few disciples, including 1 apostle and Mary, the Mother of God.

Mary's presence, remembered and honored during the month of October as we reflect on the Rosary, reminds us that affliction and difficulty can lead us closer to God.

St. Paul, too, teaches us that, in order to comfort others, we must be willing to endure affliction ourselves. His letter to the Philippians underscores the notion that Jesus took the form of a servant, obedient even unto death.   If you find yourself caring for a loved one, whether a child, spouse, aging parent, sibling, or friend, you may indeed face moments of affliction. All of us will face such trials. However, it is through these trials that we can grow in sympathy and compassion for others. It is tempting to turn away from God during times of difficulty, but the parable teaches us that it is possible to change our minds, to return to our commitments, and ultimately, to come home.  [_END__]