Paul Boese

Feast of the Archangels

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

We are familiar with Michael, the fighter and warrior of God, and with Gabriel, God’s messenger to Mary and Zechariah for the birth of their sons. The Archangel Raphael, “the Medicine of God,” appears in the book of Tobit to heal Tobit from his blindness​.

God is Watching

We are often told that "God is watching us" as an ominous warning to behave ourselves. The truth is that God does watch us. However, God looks at us through the eyes of infinite love. 

If you've ever been in love, you know that you become so fascinated by the object of your love, that it's sometimes hard to look away. You are captivated. 

That's how it is with God. God loves us so much and we are so unique and fascinating to God that He can't take His eyes off of us! That's how love is!

I'm All Over It

There is a phrase that is used to describe someone who is anxious and eager to handle a situation. You might hear it in the context of a coworker suggesting to another that something needs to be done. The other worker in response says, "I'm all over it!" With that phrase they are saying, "There is no need to worry. I have it covered, I have it under control, I understand the situation, and I am taking care of it."

The world would be a different place if we as believers could respond to the question: "How is your prayer life?" with the answer, "I'm all over it!"

Can you respond in that way?

In Ephesians 6:18 we read the following words, "With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints" (HCSB). This is one of the Bible's amazing verses on prayer. When you examine it closely you discover some guidelines on how to have an effective and exciting prayer life. The words of the verse remind us of some things to get "all over" as we pray.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sin is not something we like to talk about or think about.  But in today’s gospel from Mark 9: 42 – 48 Jesus confronts us with some very harsh words about sinful behaviour. St James also warns us about the consequences of sinful behaviour in today’s second reading. In the Old Testament the word for sin is heť which means to miss the mark. Fr John L. McKenzie, SJ in his Dictionary of the Bible devotes three pages to the Old Testament meaning of sin. In addition to missing the mark, Old Testament sin implies rebellion, breach of an agreement between nations and people and disloyalty. According to McKenzie the key element of the Old Testament notion of sin is “a breach of covenant” and non-action. Quoting McKenzie again “The first and dominant effect of sin is death; sin is the denial of life…the sinner dies a little each time he sins.” What happens to sinners in the Old Testament is usually some sort of shunning, banishment or death.  

When Jesus arrived on the scene, he preached about repentance, forgiveness and divine mercy. One of Jesus’ sins in the eyes of the Pharisees was that he befriended and associated with sinners. Over and over, we read in the Gospels that Jesus is the conqueror of sin.  In Luke 15:7 Jesus tells a crowd of tax collectors and sinners that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-nine righteous   people who have no need of repentance.” Jesus confronted sin and gave sinners opportunities to repent and taught people who had been sinned against to forgive. This is what we pray every time we say “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” 

So, why is Jesus using such harsh language in today’s gospel? Think about it. If anyone is diagnosed with cancer, one of the first lines of defence is surgery - cut it out. Excising the cancer can save life.   The same is true for our spiritual lives. If we want to enter into the Kingdom of God then we must get rid of whatever is causing us to sin. I don’t believe that Jesus meant literally cut off your hand, or foot or eye. I believe he meant get rid of the bad habit, the bad behaviour, the unhealthy relationship or anything that separates us from God. All of us are sinners and all of us are graced with forgiveness if we seek it. To me the story of the woman caught in adultery found in John 8: 1 – 11 is one of the great examples of how Jesus dealt with the forgiveness of sin. After Jesus shamed the scribes and Pharisees who charged the woman, he turned to her and said “’Has anyone condemned you?’ she replied, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.’”  Jesus says the same to us.  And, so, we pray,

Pour out your Spirit, O God, over the whole world
to inspire every heart
with knowledge and love of you.

Grant that we who confess Jesus as Lord
may avoid whatever leads us and others to sin
and give witness to your love
made visible in Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

AMEN

St. Patrick Prayer

When you find yourself in times of trouble, recite this prayer by Saint Patrick himself. May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Angels of God guard us. Against the snares of the evil one. May God be with us! May God be before us! May God be in us, God be over all! May Thy Grace, Lord, Always be ours, This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.

Knowledge of the Poor and Needy

Knowledge of the poor and needy is not gained by pouring over books or in discussions with politicians, but by visiting the slums where they live, sitting by the bedside of the dying, feeling the cold they feel and learning from their lips the causes of their woes.

~Blessed Frédéric Ozanam