More Wisdom from Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen

The Gospel is the highest norm. The Gospel is the judge of all. Since the heart of the Gospel is love (God loves you, therefore you should love one another), all that leads to further love is in accord with the Gospel, and thus we can assume that it is from the Holy Spirit. What, on the contrary, only tends toward satisfying our selfishness cannot have its origin in the Spirit.

—Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen from The Holy Spirit, Fire of Divine Love

Wisdom from Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen

It is extremely liberating to know that God never demands more of us that we can give him. He is always content when we do what we can. The only important thing is that we never give up, that with a holy stubbornness we do what we can.

—Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen from The Holy Spirit, Fire of Divine Love

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C September 29, 2019

First Reading
Amos 6:1,4-7
God will judge the complacency of the people and their leaders.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 146:7-10
Happy are those who find solace in God, the help of the poor.

Second Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Paul exhorts Timothy to stay faithful to God in all things.

Gospel Reading
Luke 16:19-31
Jesus tells the parable of the reversal of fortunes between the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus.

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"


Background on the Gospel Reading

A major theme in the Gospel of Luke is the importance of the care of the poor in the life of discipleship. In the parable found in today's Gospel, Jesus contrasts the life of a rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, who lives in the shadow of the rich man and his wealth. Both die. Lazarus finds himself in heaven; the rich man in the netherworld. The rich man asks for assistance from Lazarus in his torment. But Abraham reminds the rich man of the good things he had in his life and describes the current situation as a reversal of fortunes. The rich man then asks that Lazarus be sent to warn his family, but this is denied with the reminder that Moses and the prophets have warned of judgment for those who neglect the care of the poor.

In the context of Luke's Gospel, this parable, delivered in the presence of a crowd of listeners, is part of Jesus' response to some Pharisees. These Pharisees are described in Luke's Gospel as “loving money.” (Note: The Pharisees were followers of a sect of Judaism active before, during, and after Jesus' lifetime. They taught an oral interpretation of the Law of Moses as the basis for popular Jewish piety. They put less emphasis on Temple worship and more on applying the law to everyday life. Though they are often portrayed negatively in the Gospels, they shared many of Jesus' and the early Church's concerns about the law.) Jesus observed that the actions of some Pharisees betrayed misplaced priorities: they spoke one way, but acted in another. The story of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrates the importance of the care of the poor and is a reminder to those who would follow Jesus of the unimportance of wealth in the eyes of God.


Family Connection

Talk with your children about some of the things that they have that can be shared with others. Ask your children to describe a time when they had to share something that they had. Ask if this was easy or difficult and why. Talk about some of ways in which your family shares your possessions. Read together today's Gospel, Luke 16:19-31. Consider together some reasons why the rich man may not have shared his riches with the poor man, Lazarus. Identify some reasons why we might share our possessions with others. Make a commitment as a family to do something this week in which you will choose to share your possessions with someone in need.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings

More wisdom from Robert Haddad

We are meant to live our lives like Jesus. When we live our lives like Jesus, we don't just believe in him as our personal Lord and savior who covers us with his merits...we accept to follow him, to live like him, to live lives of sacrifice.

—ROBERT HADDAD from Purgatory and Praying for the Dead

Wisdom from Robert Haddad

[On the cross] Jesus is in our place offering a worthy, perfect, infinitely meritorious sacrifice to the Father, which the Father accepts on our behalf.

—ROBERT HADDAD from Purgatory and Praying for the Dead

More Wisdom from Ven. Fulton Sheen

I could never see why anyone in this day and age should object to the Immaculate Conception; all modern pagans believe that they are immaculately conceived. If there is no Original Sin, then everyone is immaculately conceived. Why they shrink from allowing to Mary what they attribute to themselves? ... Original Sin and the Immaculate Conception are mutually exclusive. If Mary alone is the Immaculate Conception, then the rest of us must have Original Sin.

—Ven. Fulton Sheen from The World’s First Love

Wisdom from Ven. Fulton Sheen

The true concept of freedom is ‘Freedom is the right to do whatever we ought’, and ought implies goal, purpose, morality, and the law of God. True freedom is within the law, not outside it. I am free to draw a triangle, if I give it three sides, but not, in a stroke of broad-mindedness, fifty-seven sides. I am free to fly on condition that I obey the law of aeronautics. In the spiritual realm, I am also most free when I obey the law of God.

—Ven. Fulton Sheen from The World’s First Love

What You Didn't Know about the Commandments

To modern ears the Ten Commandments seem harsh and restricting. In reality, they embody the most perfect expression of human freedom. Only by obeying the Commandments can we live fully human lives and achieve union with God. In these remarkable pages, Fr. Brian Mullady reveals the many often-overlooked, soul-nourishing elements and implications of each of the Commandments. Here you’ll come to understand how the Commandments are not just ten individual rules; but an entire plan of life that draws you into God's light and brings you enduring peace with others—and with yourself. You’re sure to close the pages of this book with newfound gratitude for the magnificent divine gift of the Commandments and with a greater resolve to believe in them, meditate upon on them, and strive to live in accordance with them. From Fr. Mullady you’ll learn:   How obedience and love are necessary companions   How the moral truths revealed by God complement the truths of nature   How the First Commandment speaks of a kind of “marital love” God shares with us   How “tempting God” involves doubt about God’s nature   The two conditions that mark any legitimate Sabbath rest   Four ways you can place your anger under the control of reason   The two kinds of “natural” rights you have as a human — and their relation to other rights   The five main categories of sinful speech   How the “negative” commandments complement the “positive” commandments The Decalogue Decoded: What You Never Learned about the Ten Commandments by Fr. Brian Mullady, O.P. Paperback — 128 Pages List Price:$14.95  Today's Sale Price: $12.99 ORDER NOW You May Also Like:    SEE MORE Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com   Invite friends to receive our newsletters and get these books for FREE! LEARN MORE Get one discounted book per month—and never pay shipping! Learn more:

More Wisdom from Cardinal Robert Sarah

Given the surge of sins in the ranks of the Church, we are tempted to try to take things into our own hands. We are tempted to try to purify the Church by our own strength. That would be a mistake. What would we do? Form a party? A movement? That is the most serious temptation: the showy disguise of division. Under the pretext of doing good, people become divided, they criticize each other, they tear each other apart. And the devil snickers. He has succeeded in tempting good people under the appearance of good. We do not reform the Church by division and hatred. We reform the Church when we start by changing ourselves! Let us not hesitate, each one in his place, to denounce sin, starting with our own.

—Cardinal Robert Sarah from The Day Is Now Far Spent

More wisdom from Karen L. Dwyer, PhD & Lawrence A. Dwyer, JD

As you take the time to read His Holy Word and to reflect upon its meaning, you can expect to have a personal encounter with your Savior. Faithfulness to reading and praying the Word of God will change your life!

—Karen L. Dwyer, PhD & Lawrence A. Dwyer, JD from WRAP Yourself in Scripture

Wisdom from Karen L. Dwyer, PhD & Lawrence A. Dwyer, JD

It is essential that you pause from all distractions and activities of your day. Try to put the Lord at the center of your attention and be totally present to Him.

—Karen L. Dwyer, PhD & Lawrence A. Dwyer, JD from WRAP Yourself in Scripture

Bible Catechism - Lesson 1

Lesson 1:
Bible Definitions

1. What does the word "Bible" mean?
The word "Bible" means "book."

2. From what language is the word derived?
(Etymological definition)
From the Latin "Biblia," which in turn comes from the Greek.

3. Is the Greek word for what we call the "Bible" in the singular or in the plural?
In the plural, which means that it should be translated "the books".

4. Why did the Greeks use the plural form?
They used the plural form because the Bible is not one book but a collection of books.

5. Is the Latin word for what we call the Bible in the singular or in the plural?
It is in the singular and, therefore, should be translated "the book".

6. Why does the Latin use the singular form?
Because the Bible is the most important book there is, since it is the Word of God.

7. What does the Bible contain?
The Bible contains chiefly a history of God's Revelation to mankind.

8. What does the Bible give us in addition to the history of God's dealings with mankind?
In addition, the Bible gives us instructions in faith and morals.

9. Does the Bible give other instructions?
Certain books give detailed instructions for the carrying out of religious worship in the Old Law.

10. Did the Bible, as some seem to think, fall from heaven?
No; the Bible was written by man.

11. If the Bible was written by man, why do we say it is the written word of God?
Though written by man, we can truly say it is the written word of God, because it was written under the inspiration of God.

Wisdom from Cardinal Robert Sarah

People often ask me: What should we do? When division threatens, it is necessary to strengthen unity. This has nothing to do with a team spirit as it exists in the world. The unity of the Church has its source in the heart of Jesus Christ. We must stay close to it, in it. This heart that was pierced by the lance so that we might be able to take refuge there will be our house. The unity of the Church rests on four columns. Prayer, Catholic doctrine, love for Peter, and mutual charity must become the priorities of our soul and of all our activities.

—Cardinal Robert Sarah from The Day Is Now Far Spent

Wisdom from Tom Hoopes

People think of "the family that prays together stays together" as a quaint old saying. But it was a favorite saying of Saint John Paul II and Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and the daily practice of Pope Benedict XVI's family, according to his brother's biographer.

—Tom Hoopes from The Rosary of Saint John Paul II

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C September 22, 2019

First Reading
Amos 8:4-7
Unfair business practices and injustice to the poor will be judged by God.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 113: 1-2,4-6,7-8
Praise be to God, who raises up the poor.

Second Reading
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Paul tells Timothy that prayer for those in authority is pleasing to God because God wills the salvation of all.

Gospel Reading
Luke 16:1-13 (shorter form, Luke 16:10-13)
Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest steward who is commended for his prudence; one cannot serve both God and money.

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?
No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and mammon."


Background on the Gospel Reading

Today's Gospel sounds puzzling to contemporary readers, but it can be made less so by considering the economic system which stands behind the parable. A steward is dismissed because he is squandering his master's property. He is called dishonest because he is not serving the interests of the rich man, his employer. In response the steward, in an attempt to ensure favor for himself among the rich man's debtors, brokers repayment of the rich man's loans by foregoing the interest and fees that had been levied to line the steward's pockets. It is this action, in which the steward puts aside his greed and takes the longer perspective in order to enhance his security, which is commended by the rich man.

The passage concludes with three morals for the listeners. The first exhorts the listener to be prudent about the use of wealth. Like the steward in the parable, those who would follow Jesus must put transitory affairs in proper perspective. Christians should handle the affairs of temporal life with an eye toward eternal life.

The second concerns trustworthiness. Those who can be trusted in small things can also be trusted in great things. If Christians handle money and other passing things responsibly, then they can also be trusted with the affairs of the Kingdom of God.

Finally, Jesus tells his listeners that no one can serve two masters simultaneously. God must be put ahead of money.


Family Connection

Talk with your children about some things that they have done to show that they can be trusted. Talk a bit about what it means to be responsible. Responsibility often means that we put aside something of passing value for something of greater value.

Read together the short form of today's Gospel, Luke 16:10-13. Talk about the importance of responsible use of money and our material possessions. As a family, commit to one action that you will take this week to show that your family serves God and not money.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings

NEW! From Dr. Peter Kreeft

From the Desk of Dr. Peter Kreeft "What’s the hardest question you’ve ever been asked?" I’ve given thousands of lectures around the country to engaged, thoughtful, curious university and church audiences. I have always made it a practice to allow for as many questions as possible. Here are the most interesting ones I’ve been asked, and the answers I gave. Of course, as real questions from real people, they’re an eclectic mix, ranging from questions about God and sex and sin and suffering to those about heaven, my favorite movies, even surfing! Some of the questions and answers are easy, some hard; some profound, some silly; some tragic, some funny; most of them thought-provoking and all of them, I hope, entertaining. Join me now as I answer . . . Why are you a Catholic?   Why do you feel the need to bring God into everything?   Why does the Church resist women’s ordination?   Why can’t divorced and remarried Catholics receive Communion?   Why is the Catholic Church obsessed with sex?   Why does the Church still forbid birth control?   Why not trial marriages—living together?   Why can’t Catholics believe in reincarnation?   Have you ever witnessed a miracle?   If you were pope, what’s the first thing you would do?   What ten books would you take to a deserted island?   Which modern invention do you believe is the most dangerous?   What’s the secret of your success as a writer?   What’s the hardest question you’ve ever been asked?   And many more questions and answers on an unbridled assortment of topics! Ask Peter Kreeft: The 100 Most Interesting Questions He's Ever Been Asked by Peter Kreeft Paperback | eBook | Audiobook 320 pages Paperback price: $18.95  Today's Sale Price: $15.99! BUY NOW We are pairing Dr. Kreeft's book with another by a famous Doctor answering questions. Of all the Church's saints, not one expresses the longing for God more beautifully, or explores the nature of prayer more helpfully, than St. Augustine. His words are as fresh for us as they were for his contemporaries. But there's a small problem. Although Augustine wrote many books, he never devoted one to prayer alone. Instead, his teachings on prayer are scattered in many places. Fr. Cliff Ermatinger to the rescue! From over 200 works, Fr. Ermatinger has gathered Augustine's teachings on prayer, and presents them here in a simple question-and-answer format. What emerges is nothing less than a "catechism on prayer" by one of the Church's greatest saints. In these pages, St. Augustine shows you how to pray better and to pray in ways that guarantee your prayers will be heard by God—and answered. He'll answer the following questions for you, and more:   What should I do when I don't feel drawn to prayer?   Is prayer a relationship or a process?   What techniques will help me along in the life of prayer?   Why are some people's prayers not answered?   For how long should I pray?   Does my physical posture matter during prayer?   Is there something I can be sure to receive if I ask for it?   Where should I look for God? Today's price: $20.99! List price: $33.90 BUY NOW Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com   Invite friends to receive our newsletters and get these books for FREE! LEARN MORE Get one discounted book per month—and never pay shipping! Learn more:

A Catholic scientist explains how God made Earth our home

Most modern scientists argue that Earth is a cosmic accident, the mystifying result of billions of years of random events. In this inspiring work, scientist Gerard Verschuuren confronts those men and women on their own territory. With clear, well-documented assertions, he shows that the latest findings of modern cosmology, physics, chemistry, and geology all point to an artful conception — and by extension, a Master Architect. Instead of the vaunted "randomness" of our immense universe, scientists are discovering indisputable patterns in the structures of matter and energy. Over the eons, these distinctive patterns drove the universe inexorably toward formation of the Earth as what we experience it to be: our secure, exceptional, and singularly welcoming home. In these pages, you'll learn: Why the universe is so old . . . and so vast!   Earth's unique chemical and geological characteristics that make it a hospitable place for mankind   How the moon became critical to life on Earth   How volcanism, mass extinctions, and even changes in the Earth's orbit prepared the way for mankind   Evidence that evolutionary changes are not, as the atheists claim, random   Why the Catholic Church has always distinguished the Book of Scripture from the Book of Nature   How science presupposes the existence of God without even realizing it!   The limitations of the scientific method and how those limitations trip up scientists   The many hidden, unscientific dogmas of science   The errors of Stephen Hawking and other popular cosmologists   Why science wrongly denies that the universe was made for mankind   Evidence that we live in a purpose-driven world (and why science is blind to it)   And much more!   In the Beginning: A Catholic Scientist Explains How God Made Earth Our Home by Gerard Verschuuren Paperback — 192 pages List price: $18.95  Today's Sale Price: $15.99! BUY NOW And for those of you who struggle with unbelief . . . This classic work, praised by Pope Pius X, will show you not only its causes . . . . . . but also its cures. From the fruits of his spiritual and psychological inquiry, Fr. Nicolas Laforet crafts a simple but powerful remedy — one that is sure to bring any reasonable seeker to Christ. It is said that where unbelief prevails, we almost invariably find its source in a person's will. But this is not so! Fr. Laforet shows definitively that although many think otherwise, unbelief is not merely a matter of the intellect. In these heartening pages, Fr. Laforet uncovers the sundry roots of unbelief and the surefire remedies that bring skeptical men and women to have faith in God. Today's price: $20.99! List price: $31.90 BUY NOW Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com   Invite friends to receive our newsletters and get these books for FREE! LEARN MORE Get one discounted book per month—and never pay shipping! Learn more: