Principles

Comedian Groucho Marx quipped, "Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others."

You and I have principles. And we also have opinions. I have opinions about what I think is right or wrong or good or bad. But… they're only opinions - I COULD be wrong! I won't try to build my life around my opinions, but I WILL endeavor to stand by my principles.

A 15-year-old boy learned a valuable lesson about life principles. He wrote a letter to "Dear Abby" about finding a woman's wallet that contained $127 as well as the woman's identification. He hopped onto his bicycle and peddled over to her house - about a mile away. He told her he found her wallet and she gave him a big hug. She also gave him twenty dollars.

That evening the boy told his parents about the event and his father said, "I don't think you should have accepted $20 for doing what you should have done. A person shouldn't be rewarded for being honest."

He pondered his father's statement and decided he would return the money. He biked to the lady's home and gave her back the twenty dollars. She didn't want to take it, but he told her she had to - that his father pointed out something to him that he had never realized before. Her eyes filled with tears as she said, "This is one for Ripley."

The boy's question to Abby? "Abby, who is Ripley?"

Is a life built around principles so unusual that Robert Ripley should mention it in his column "Believe It or Not"? When ideals such as honesty and a personal standard of always doing the right thing guide our every action and decision, we actually change. These great principles shape our lives and make us into persons of character. They build self esteem and teach confidence. That boy is fortunate to be raised by a wise father who had the wisdom to say, "Those are my principles."

Martin Luther King, Jr. put it well: "The time is always right to do what is right." Those were his principles. Decide to always do what is right - today and every day - and you will find yourself building a life that matters.

Thinking Clearly

Sometimes it's just a matter of thinking clearly. Like the small businessman whose clothing store was threatened with extinction when a national chain store moved in and acquired all the properties on his block. This one particular businessman refused to sell. “All right then, we'll build all around you and put you out of business,” the new competitors said. 

Surely -- you might think -- here is a case for warranted anger. If a hothead ever had an excuse, this was it. 

The day came when the small merchant found himself hemmed in with a new department store stretching out on both sides of and above his little retail shop. The competitors now opened shop. Their banners unfurled, “Grand Opening!”

The merchant in the old store, the little store surrounded by the big bully, had a banner of his own. His banner reached across the entire width of his little store. It read, “Main Entrance.”

And just when others thought he wouldn’t survive … he thrived.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today is Halloween or All Hallows Eve. At some point in its history, Halloween may have had some religious significance. But it doesn’t anymore. It is, however, a joyous time for children as they dress up in all manner of creative disguises and collect hordes of candy as they trick or treat through their neighborhoods.

There is no connection in today’s gospel, Mark 12:28-34, to Halloween. There is, however, an element of trick or treat in this story about a discerning scribe and his encounter with Jesus. In order to get the connection, we need to backup and read the preceding verses (Mark 12:13-27). In these verses, some Pharisees and the Herodians are sent to Jesus “to ensnare him in his speech.” They asked him about paying taxes to Caesar. They were “utterly amazed” by his answer and wandered off. Then some Sadducees asked him a trick question about the resurrection. Once again, Jesus dispatched them quickly. Finally, our scribe in today’s reading comes forward. He was impressed by Jesus’ answers to the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees and asked a straightforward question about the great commandment. Jesus gave him a straightforward answer with a twist.

We all know that the most important law or commandment is the first one, the Great Commandment, that we hear in our first reading from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” The twist is that Jesus added a second commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” from Leviticus 19:18. And he emphasized that, “there is no other commandment greater than these.” Putting these two different commandments together and making them one commandment was radical. It was radical because Jesus took the old law and gave it a new meaning.

Our discerning scribe responded to Jesus saying: “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices’.” Then, Jesus gave the scribe his treat, saying: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Jesus also got a treat because “no one dared asked him any more questions.”

Lord our God, loving Father,

all true love comes from you and leads to you.

You have committed yourself to us

in a covenant of lasting love

in the person of Jesus Christ.

Help us to respond to your love

with the whole of our being

and to live your commandments

not as laws forced on us from outside

but as opportunities to love you

for yourself and in people, our brothers and sisters.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

I Asked the Lord to Bless You

How We Look at Others

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.

The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry is not very clean,” she said. “She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.” Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

Where's the Ocean?

There’s a story about a little fish swimming around the ocean and asks a wise old fish, “Where’s the ocean?”

The big fish replies, “Well look around you, Little One; you’re in the ocean.”

“No. No!” says the little fish. “This is just the water. I want to find the ocean.”

Of course the wise old fish goes on to explain that the water is the ocean – everything around the little fish is the ocean. “Little One, the water is the ocean. It brings us life carries us through life; and brings us the oxygen we breathe through our gills; it brings us the nourishment to live. Everything is the ocean!”

The same is true for our faith in God. Everything is the ocean - or in our case, everything is spiritual. We don’t have to go look for it. It’s already here. We don’t have to ask about or talk about the “spiritual part” of our faith. It’s all spiritual. Everything is spiritual.​

Growing Up

 

Open Arms of Home

A young man returned from military duty in the Middle East. For several months, he had served in a place of great danger, in very unfamiliar and uncomfortable surroundings. When he talked about his joy upon being home, he talked of the simplest things. His recliner fit like a glove, and his bed was nothing short of luxurious comfort. He played ball with his son for an hour, and enjoyed his favorite meal across the table from his wife. The touch of her hand, he said, was beyond description. The greatest comfort he'd ever known wasn't anything elaborate. The greatest comfort was simply being home. It was the comfort of having familiar surroundings after a very dangerous journey.

The disciples and the close-knit circle around Jesus thought they had lost Jesus. They had called him Messiah, and life had been wonderful when Jesus was around. Suddenly, there was the cross, and it was all over. The grave sealed their hopes, and the comfort was shattered.

Then came the cry - "He's alive!" - and Jesus was in their midst. He came with open hands, standing among them, fixing their breakfast, walking with them, encouraging them, thrilling them, leaving them with the smiles of a man come home from war.

Wherever you've been, the Lord's Supper is an opportunity to come home. The battle might have been difficult, and you might not have won every fight. But here is forgiveness, and grace ... and the open arms of home.

Peanut

George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut: "When I was young, I said to God, 'God, tell me the mystery of the universe.' But God answered, 'That knowledge is reserved for me alone.' So I said, 'God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.' Then God said, 'Well, George, that's more nearly your size.' And he told me."

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For four Sundays in October, we have heard Chapter 10 of Mark’s Gospel. We began with the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus with a question about marriage and divorce and we learned that the kingdom of God belongs to children and those who have childlike faith (Mark 10:2-16). Then we heard about the rich man who wanted to “inherit eternal life” but didn’t have the courage to sacrifice anything to get it. He walked away from Jesus a sad person (Mark 10:17-30). Next James and John asked Jesus for positions of power and influence in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-45). Like the rich man they were disappointed. And today we end Mark Chapter 10 with the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar Jesus encountered sitting on the side of the road between Jericho and Jerusalem (Mark 10:46-52).

The story of Bartimaeus ends the chapter on a high note. While the rich man and James and John experienced sadness and disappointment when their petitions to Jesus were not granted, Bartimaeus received everything he asked for and more. When Jesus called him, Bartimaeus did not hesitate; he jumped up left his cloak (probably his only possession) behind and approached Jesus. Then Jesus asked Bartimaeus the same question he asked James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?" He answered "Master, I want to see."

Now at this point in the story nothing theatrical happens. All Jesus says to Bartimaeus is "Go your way; your faith has saved you." And the blind man received his sight. This is not particularly extraordinary in the context of Jesus’ ministry. He healed lots of people. What is extraordinary is Bartimaeus’ response. After receiving his sight Bartimaeus followed Jesus “on the way” to Jerusalem, to ridicule, to injustice, to suffering and finally to the cross. The rich man was long gone. James and John were still bumbling around trying to work things out. But Bartimaeus did not go his way; he followed THE WAY. Bartimaeus saw what the others failed to see. He saw that by following Jesus he would find true meaning, true goodness, pure beauty and clear direction for his life. Bartimaeus found the kingdom of God.

You could say to me, Fr Murphy, Bartimaeus had nothing to lose! And you would be correct. He had nothing to lose but he had everything to gain. He seized the opportunity. Not only were his eyes opened, his heart, mind and spirit were opened as well. It was his courage, his understanding and ultimately his faith that saved him. And so, the blind beggar sitting on the side of the road from Jericho to Jerusalem became the recipient of Jesus’ final miracle in Mark’s Gospel and the last disciple called by Jesus.

Our living God,

you are very near to us in our joys and pains.

Give us the eyes of faith and love to see

the mission you have given us in life

and the courage and grace to carry it out.

Make us also clear-sighted enough to see

the needs of people who cry out their misery

or suffer in silence,

that we may bring them your healing compassion

and lead them to you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Everybody

This is a story about four people named: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it!

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Pray

God has created us to love and to be loved,
and this is the beginning of prayer –
to know that God loves me,
that I have been created for greater things.

We must become holy, not because we want to feel holy,
but because Christ must be able to live his life fully in us.”

You can pray while you work.
Work doesn’t stop prayer and prayer doesn’t stop work.
It requires only that small raising of the mind to Him.

If we really want to pray, we must first learn to listen:
for in the silence of the heart God speaks.

~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta

“Have you ever done something simply on principle, because it was the right thing to do, knowing that you couldn’t explain it to anyone, without there even being a good feeling attached to your act?”

Karl Rahner wrote that and then added: “If you have done this, you have experienced God, perhaps without knowing it.”​

Prayer of Abandonment

 

A Dream

 

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

As I was reflecting on Today’s Gospel, Mark 10:35-45, I remembered a high school commencement speech that was given in 2012. The speech, by David McCullough, Jr at Wellesley High School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, was videoed, posted on YouTube and went viral. A story about it was written in the Atlantic. When he gave the speech titled “You are Not Special,” McCullough had no idea what he had unleashed. Over and over again he told the Wellesley class of 2012 “you are not special. You are not exceptional.” He said, “even if you’re one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you.” And he ended the speech by saying “The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special. Because everyone is.”

So, what does “you are not special” have to do with today’s gospel? Our reading today tells the story of James and John asking Jesus for privileged positions in the kingdom. James and John like all the other disciples totally misunderstood Jesus’ message. As we heard in last week’s Gospel message, Jesus informed them that the entry cost into the kingdom is high. Just getting into the kingdom would cost both men their lives. We all can forget about privileged positions because there are no privileged positions. In the upside-down and backwards world of the kingdom, “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44). James and John were not special and neither are we.

What James and John did have was tremendous faith in Jesus. They believed that he was the Messiah and they wanted to be with him in his glory. And they were secure enough in their relationship with Jesus to ask him for whatever they wanted. In today’s second reading from Hebrews 4:14-16, all of us are encouraged to “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” So, while we are “not special” we all are loved. Because of that overwhelming and unconditional love all of us can approach Jesus with our cares and concerns knowing that he will “sympathize with our weaknesses,” because he has “similarly been tested in every way…”

Most glorious God,

in Jesus, you show us that your will is to save.

Grant to us, your people,

the boldness to desire a place in your kingdom,

the courage to drink the cup of suffering,

and the grace to discover in service of others

a taste of the glory you promise.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN.

Success

 

Prayer for Making Decisions

God,

It seems that life is always requiring decisions.

Sometimes everything in my life is stable and settled,

And then a new opportunity presents itself,

And I feel unsteady and unsure of which way to go.

At other times I become weary with stability

And decide I want a change in my life.

That’s when I look for other possibilities

That may allow me to move in a different direction.

In either case, I can feel unsettled about making a decision,

Especially when there is still some

Haziness in my heart about the course I should take.

I do not, after all, want to make the wrong decision.

I pray that you will guide my thoughts

When I am searching through options for my future.

Help me be patient when the process

Is unfolding more slowly than I would want.

Help me trust the spirit of intuition

That you have given me as an aid for

Interpreting the signs that help me move forward.

From: Understanding God Today

Suffering

The Elders say that if you want something good, you have to suffer for it."

People sometimes have a misconception of sacrifice. This is a strong word for Indian people. On the other side of sacrifice is another whole world. During sacrifice, our beliefs are tested. We may all have good beliefs but if you test a good belief, then you get real beliefs. Real beliefs make new people; real beliefs make new self images. Real beliefs allow determination and desires and faith to come true. Good is always available to us but we often can't bring it within until we let go of the old ways. We let go of the old ways by suffering. Suffering is only letting go of things that don't work anymore. On the other side of suffering is a new world.

Creator, help me to let go of old ways. Let my old thoughts and beliefs be abandoned. Every change is preceded by struggle. Help me go through the struggle today.

From “The White Bison”

Self-Talk

"We all form self-images and much of our behavior is pretty well determined by how we feel about ourselves." – Eunice Baumann-Nelson, Ph.D.

There is a cycle of building beliefs called the self-talk cycle. Our self-talk builds our self-image and our self-image determines our behavior, our actions, and our self-worth - how we feel about ourselves. If we want to change the way we feel about ourselves we need to change our self-talk. We need to build ourselves up. We need to talk to ourselves in a kind, positive, uplifting, good way. We need to talk to ourselves about the good things that are happening and know that we are worthy and expect abundance.

Lord, today help us to know ourselves. Help us to see the joy, kindness, strength and beauty that we are.

Receiving a Gift of Grace

When we willingly accept compliments, we are reminded that others see us through different eyes.

Many of us find it difficult to accept compliments but easy to believe the slightest criticism. Today, right now, let's make a choice to fully accept compliments as we would a gift. Sincere compliments are gifts of praise. They are kudos given for wise choices or accomplishments or perhaps for just letting your light shine. There is no reason not to accept the gift of a kind word, but some of us argue against them, even giving reasons why they aren't true.

If we visualize the energy of a compliment, we would see beautiful, shining, positive energy being sent from the giver. That energy, if accepted graciously, would brighten our personal energy field. Our gratitude then returns to the giver as warm, fuzzy, glowing energy, completing an even circuit of good feelings. But if we reject a compliment, what could have been a beautiful exchange becomes awkward and uncomfortable, making it a negative experience instead. Misplaced modesty can ruin the joy of sharing this connection with another person. But we can accept a compliment and still be modest by simply saying thank you.

However, if compliments are rejected due to a lack of self-esteem, then the first step would be to start believing good things about yourself. Try giving yourself compliments in the mirror. Beyond the initial feelings of silliness, you will notice how good it feels and can watch the smile it puts on your face. The next step would be to see how it feels to give compliments to others. Notice how great you feel when you've made another person's face brighten and how differently you feel when the gift you've offered is rejected. Having experienced all sides, you will be ready to play along fully and willingly.

We are our harshest critics. When we accept compliments, we are reminded that others see us through different eyes. All living beings crave positive attention, and we all deserve to have positive energy shared with us. Perhaps if we happily and gratefully accept compliments, we will give others permission to do so as well.

By Madisyn Taylor

A New Beginning

Henri Barbusse tells of a conversation overheard in a dugout full of wounded men during the First World War. One of the men had been terribly wounded, and he knew he has only moments to live. He had a friend with him, one who had already seen a bad start to a bad life. He'd made wrong decisions. He'd already served time in prison. In fact, he was wanted, back home, by the police again. The wounded man, the dying man, pulls the wanted man down, close to his face. He takes his dog tag, his ID chain, and presses it in the hand of his buddy. “Listen, Dominic, you've led a bad life,” he said. “Everywhere you are wanted by the police. But there are no convictions against me. My name is clear, so, here, take my dog tag, take my wallet, take my papers, my identity, my good name, my life and quickly, hand me your papers that I may carry all your crimes away with me in death.”

That is the same offer the Living Christ makes to us through his saving death on the cross - and his life-changing resurrection.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, still offers to take your sins to the cross with him. And because of the resurrection, you can take his good name ... Christ ... you can be a Christian ... and live in freedom.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I was reading and reflecting on the Gospel for this week when two words hit me between the eyes, “with persecution.” The Gospel for today is from Mark 10:17-30. It’s the story of The Rich Man who ran to Jesus, dropped down on his knees and asked "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" We all know this story. It’s about giving up our attachments to worldly possessions, sharing with the poor and following Jesus. But there is a lot more to the story than that.

What is interesting about this story is the reaction of the disciples. Jesus had to explain what happened with the rich man twice. First, he said it’s hard for wealthy people to enter the kingdom of God and then it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. The Jewish people of Jesus’ time believed that wealth was a sign of favour from God. So, Jesus’ message was very disturbing. Peter reminded Jesus that "We have given up everything and followed you." I interpret this as Peter saying, “OK Jesus we have given up everything to follow you, so we’re in, right?”

Jesus responded to Peter that whatever a person has given up to follow him would be returned “a hundred times more now in this present age.” But then he slipped in the catch. Yes, his followers would receive “houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.” It all sounds good until that “with persecutions” part. This is not a particularly rosy picture. As Jesus got closer and closer to Jerusalem, he constantly reminded the disciples that the road ahead was full of danger. He wasn’t doing this to frighten or discourage them. He was telling them the truth. He presented both the good and the bad. And he did it in the most compassionate way possible.

The kingdom comes at a cost. It is not about loss because what has been lost will be returned. Quid pro quo does not work in the kingdom. The entry price into the kingdom is our willingness to suffer persecution, humiliation, loss and possibly death to follow Jesus. At this stage in their discipleship Peter and the others had given up a lot but they had not suffered persecution. Their faith was not tested. If it had been, all the disciples probably would have fled back to the comfort of their homes. Jesus had already warned them about the Way of the Cross. But they didn’t understand. None of us understand until we are tested. If Jesus had given Peter a direct answer to his question he might have said, “No, Peter you are not in yet but you will be one day because ‘All things are possible for God’.”

God of Wisdom,

whose Word probes the motives of our hearts -

with you all things are possible.

Enlightened by your wisdom,

and freed from preoccupation with this world's wealth,

may we recognize the signs of your kingdom among us,

a treasure beyond compare.

We ask this through Jesus,

the high priest who sympathizes with our weakness,

for he is with you and the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN.

 

Hold On

 

May You

 

Brand New Day

Good Morning God,

You’re ushering in a brand day,

bright and shiny new,

and here I come again to ask

if you’ll renew me too.

Please forgive the many errors

I made just yesterday

and let me try again, dear God

to walk closer in your way.

But Father, I am well aware

that I can’t do this on my own,

so please take my hand and hold it tight

so I won’t walk alone.

Amen​

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

Little by Little

'Little by Little,’ an acorn said,
As it slowly sank in its mossy bed,
‘I am improving every day,
Hidden deep in the earth away.

Little by little each day it grew,
Little by little it sipped the dew,
Downward it sent a thread-like-root,
Up in the air sprang a tiny shoot.

Day after day, and year after year,
Little by little the leaves appear,
And the slender branches spread far and wide,
‘Til the mighty oak in the forest’s pride.

‘Little by little,’ said a thoughtful boy,
‘Each precious moment I will employ
And always this rule in my mind shall dwell.
Whatever I do, I’ll do it well.

‘Little by little, I’ll learn to know
The treasured wisdom of long ago,
And sometime, perhaps, the world will be
Happier and better because of me.’

Anonymous

Kind Words

 

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Divorce was contentious during the time of Moses; it was contentious during the time of Jesus and it is contentious today. In Deuteronomy 24:1, Moses said if a man after marrying becomes displeased with his wife “because he finds in her something indecent” he can write out a bill of divorce, hand it to his wife and dismiss her. There were two different rabbinical schools of thought regarding the interpretation of “something indecent.” The Shammai School used a strict interpretation. Something indecent was adultery. The Hillel School interpretation was much more flexible. Something indecent could be a poorly cooked meal, trashing the in-laws, arguing, talking to a strange man or as one rabbi said, “If a man found a woman who was fairer in his eyes than his wife.” The Hillel School interpretation prevailed.

Also, during the times of Moses and Jesus women had no rights. They were the property of the male head of their family (father, husband, or son). They could be kicked out of their homes with nothing without recourse. And, in all probability they would not be welcomed back into their family homes. While divorce could be advantageous for men, there were few advantages for women. Divorce reduced women to lives of abject poverty.

So, when the Pharisees approached Jesus asking if divorce was lawful to test him, they already knew the answer. Yes, according to Mosaic Law divorce was lawful. If Jesus disagreed, he was committing heresy. That is exactly what he did. Jesus upheld the dignity of women and he upheld the sanctity of marriage. He reached beyond Mosaic Law to the Creation Story quoting from Genesis 1:27 and 2:24. In Genesis 1:27 we are told that “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them.” Therefore “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body” (Genesis 2;24). Jesus then told the Pharisees, his disciples and us that “what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mark 10:9). These words are still used in marriage ceremonies today.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are taught that “Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone.’ The woman, ‘flesh of his flesh,’ i.e., his counterpart, his equal, his nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a ‘helpmate’; she thus represents God from whom comes our help. ‘Therefore, a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.’ The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives by recalling what the plan of the Creator had been ‘in the beginning’: ‘So they are no longer two, but one flesh’ (CCC 1605).

Immediately following his discussion on marriage and divorce, Jesus welcomed and blessed children - the fruit of marriage. The lives of children have always been vulnerable. Like women during the time of Jesus, children had no rights, they too were considered nothing more than property. To this very day, children have few rights. Unborn children are particularly vulnerable; they have no rights. Yet, as Jesus tells us, "The kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14).

Today is Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. Please remember to pray for the millions of people who have died because their lives were not valued and reflect on how the kingdom of God is diminished because of their deaths.

In your image you have made us, O God, male and female you have made us, knowing that it is not good for us to be alone. Through the work of your Spirit, restore to the children of Adam and Eve the holiness and harmony of creation's earliest days.

Give us faithful hearts, 

that what you have joined together 

no human power may put asunder. 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

God for ever and ever. 

Amen