"It is no coincidence that our beloved savior declared the Holy Spirit to be the Advocate (Jn. 16:7) and that Christ Jesus' bride, the Catholic Church, declares the Ever Blessed Virgin also to be our Advocate. In truth, the Holy Spirit and the Mother of God have an intimate spiritual union. The Holy Spirit acts through His spiritual spouse (Lk. 1:41-3, Acts 1:14; 2:1-3)."1
Michael J. Ruggiero, SFO
Master of Arts in Theology
Franciscan University of Steubenville
1 Ruggiero, Michael. The Blessed Virgin Mary: Advocate for Humanity. CES:NY 2010. Copyright, 2010, Michael Ruggiero and CES.
Click on "This Week's Gospel Message" to read Mr. Ruggiero's teaching on Sunday's gospel reading!
Remember to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Click on "Great Prayers" for more information!
Catholic Evangelization Society
michaelr
THIS WEEK'S
GOSPEL MESSAGE
"By virtue of their baptism and confirmation, lay members of the Christian faithful are witnesses of the gospel message by word and example..."
Canon 759
This Week's Gospel Message is written by...
Michael J. Ruggiero, SFO
Master of Arts in Theology
Franciscan University of Steubenville
All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Bible. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Catholic Book Publishers: KS, 1987.
Copyright 2010. CES
All rights reserved.
St. Jerome, by Caravaggio
Previous Messages of Interest
This month we urge you to reflect upon the message from January 1st:
January 1, 2010
Feast of Mary, Mother of God
Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
Message:
In today's gospel reading, shepherds watching over their flocks received an invitation from God (a grace) to visit the world's newborn savior and quickly acted upon it, going "...in haste..."
After they honored Him, Luke's Gospel tells us implicity the shepherds received several spiritual gifts from Jesus though Mary (much the same way Elizabeth and John did in Lk. 1:39-45): they received to a certain degree the gift of the Holy Spirit who gave them faith and spiritual joy and by their cooperation transformation, for they "...returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them" (Lk. 2:20). Truly, by their expression of faith (seen in their rejoicing) the shepherds were transformed more into the image and likeness of Christ.
Hence, we are urged today - just as the shepherds were- to quickly honor Jesus our savior through Mary, Mother of God (Mother of her Son's humanity) and to rejoice over the fact that because Mary is Mother of God she is simultaneously our spiritual Mother in the order of grace: Mary spirtually feeds us (distributes to us) grace just as an earthly mother physically feeds her children human food. Further, to recognize that transformation only occurs through the work of Jesus Christ through Mary, Mother of God - our Mother in the order of grace.
To Jesus Christ alone be all glory!
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - Extraordinary Rite)
Readings:
Genesis 18:20-32
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13
Nothing releases the power and gifts of God more effectively than reverent, persistent, prayer. Prayer is the instrument man uses to unite himself to God. The practice of prayer not only releases great grace, it draws our attention away from the profane and centers it on the sacred!
After praying Himself in a certain place, our dear savior, (according to the evangelist Luke) received a petition from one of his disciples: "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples" (Lk.11:1). Jesus responded by teaching them the "Our Father," a prayer consisting of seven petitions (from a relational standpoint - sons and daughters in the Holy Spirit going through Jesus Christ our savior to our heavenly Father):
1. that our Father's name be hallowed (blessed).
2. that His kingdom (reign) come (be realized everywhere).
3. that our Father's will be done on earth as it is in (the state of being we call) heaven.
4. that he gives us today our material bread (and spiritual sustenance, the Holy Eucharist).
5. that He forgive us to the extent we forgive others.
6. that he lead us not into temptation (lead us away from circumstances that bring temptation).
7. that He deliver us from evil (thoughts, words, actions deficient in order, form or due measure).
The "Our Father" is a wonderful prayer because it gives God adoration and shows us our relation to and dependence upon Him.
Luke also draws our attention to the necessity of persistent prayer and the blessings that come from it. Prayer releases the graces of redemption, the infinite graces gained by our savior when He suffered and died (out of obedience to His Father's will) in atonement for our sins. Distributed through our Blessed Mother (and often obtained by her - hence, the necessity of praying the Rosary) these graces enable us to regain our union with God and deepen it. In short, they allow us to receive the greatest gift of all - the gift of the Holy Spirit, indeed the presence of the Holy Trinity.
Fulfill the two great commandments of our savior this week! Spend time with God in formal prayer - adoring Him, asking, seeking, knocking on the door of heaven - and pray for others as you would want them to pray for you!
To Jesus Christ alone be all glory!
Last week's message...
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Eighth Sunday after Pentecost - Extraordinary Rite)
Readings:
Genesis 18:1-10
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38-42
Today's gospel reading reminds all disciples of Christ that we fulfill the greatest commandment - to love God with all of our being - every time we seize the opportunity to listen to and spend time with our beloved savior, the one with whom our heavenly Father is well pleased (see Lk. 3:22, 9:35).
Recalling a time when Jesus visited Martha and her sister, Mary, while he was making His way to Jerusalem, Luke notes implicitly through the actions of both women that the grace of opportunity - particularly the opportunity to listen to our savior - is often given by God and that wise disciples recognize in this opportunity the chance to deepen union with God!
In sum, Jesus offered two friends - Martha and Mary - simultaneously the graces of opportunity and faith: the chance to drop everything in faith and listen to the Eternal Word of God disclose truths about spiritual matters (and also deepen union with Him). Mary, whose heart was centered on Christ, acted wisely, while Martha, whose heart was "...anxious and worried about many things..." acted in a worldly fashion.
This week, let us often recall the choice of Mary and imitate it when God offers us the opportunity to spend time with HIM (perhaps time adoring Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament or time with Him in prayer or time listening to Him as we read Sacred Scripture)!
To Jesus Christ alone be all glory!
The message from two weeks ago...
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - Extraordinary Rite)
Readings:
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37
The new law giver of the New Covenant, He who calls us to experience certain virtuous, spiritual states of being in order to gain solemn blessings, offers a scholar of the law - in today's gospel reading - the graces of knowledge and opportunity to help him attain a personal goal: the gift of eternal life.
After being "put to the test," Jesus shows the scholar through the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" that self-denial for a greater devotion to God and love of neighbor lies at the heart of the two great commandments. Further, that we begin to fulfill the demands of the two great commandments when we commit ourselves to total love of God and ongoing consideration of those we pass in life (both of which are difficult to consistently manifest).
This passage is recalled by the evangelist Luke to remind all universal Christians that eternal life is guaranteed to those who keep the two great commandments of Jesus.
Recalling that God routinely offers us grace through our Blessed Mother (the most giving, selfless person) to help us grow as Christians, let us resolve this week to display love for God and neighbor by doing the following:
-committing ourselves to remain in a "state of grace."
-scheduling formal prayer time (to be with God) and time to pray for someone else.
-remaining attentive to the needs of those we "pass by" each day (especially ready to render a smile, kind word or prayer should they seem in need of love).
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Mt. 5:7).
To Jesus Christ alone be all glory!
If you need someone to pray for you, click on "Contact Us", state your request and you'll be placed on our prayer line! God loves you and we do too!
Catholic Evangelization Society
michaelr
