Mr. Marcon's Meditation Minute

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 11:46:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is casting out the demons which plague the people of Israel. Some Jews thought that Jesus was somehow linked to Satan since he was able to tell the demons what to do. They thought he might be their leader since he was able to command them. They questioned where he got his authority and power. We are well into Jesus’ mission and these Jews continue to resent Jesus and deny his miracles. They simply cannot believe that a man could do such a feat. What they fail to see is the power of God alive within Christ and more importantly, to recognize that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus tells them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” If Satan is wiping out his own, wouldn’t his legions eventually fail? The doubters would rather attribute the power to Satan then admit that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus tells them just the opposite, “But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Jesus is trying to tell them that his ability to dispel demons is proof that the Kingdom of God has arrived. Jesus has come to defeat Satan and his armies by the “finger of God.”

Why does Jesus talk about a House divided? If the house is divided it is weakened by arguing and fighting between its own. This message is still true today. Christians are divided into many different sects. We are so focused on the differences between our beliefs instead of focusing on the similarities. Saint John Paul the Great told us to forget about the differences and focus on the commonalities between the religions, thereby we can begin to restore the one true mother church. We do not see our fellow Christians as believers in Christ, but as disbelievers. Just think if we all joined forces together how big an impact that would have on the world. The divided house among Christians is the work of Satan. The more Satan can cause us to argue, the more divided we become. The more divided we become, the weaker we become.

But Jesus gives us hope. In the second half of Gospel Jesus says, “When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.” The Strong Man is Satan who works hard to occupy our hearts and our homes. Jesus is stronger than Satan and can overcome him. If we let God into our hearts, God will conquer Satan and cast out his spoils. But just because Satan is cast out, he does not give up. “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’” Satan will return, over and over again continually trying to conquer our souls. We must continually clean our house and be ever vigilant against his tricks and evil ways.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, cast out the demons which plague my life.

Dispel from me those spirits which keep me from the Kingdom of God.

Purify my house so that it stands united.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:42:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Today’s gospel reading tells us that our Father is welcoming and always ready to receive us. Jesus tells the story of a late night traveler seeking hospitality from his host. No matter what time the traveler arrives, it was the obligation of the town to receive and entertain this traveler. The host needs bread to nourish the traveler and must go and get bread from one of his neighbors. Unfortunately the friend would not provide the bread, but because of the importance of the visitor the neighbor persisted. This story is about prayer and asking for God’s unending supply of grace which is poured out for us. Jesus tells his disciples that they must be persistent in their prayer – “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” If you ask God in prayer, He will provide everything you need; if you seek out God, you will find Him there with you; and if you knock on his door, He will open it and receive you in.

God answers every prayer – the answer just might be no. Jesus tells them, “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?” Jesus is telling his disciples that God will only provide what is good and what is needed. God understands what our heart is longing. We may not see it the same way, but God knows what is best. Jesus uses the image of the father-child relationship to demonstrate God’s heavenly relationship with us on earth. A good father will provide what his children need and will not provide anything that will harm them. God provides us with what is needed to nourish us both physically and spiritually. He provides what is needed to feed the body. Jesus concludes this story telling us how overflowing God’s grace actually is, “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” This last statement tells us that God’s grace is abundant, overflowing and unending. God provides more then what we need or we expect. God gives us his gifts freely and without conditions. We do not even have to deserve them and he will provide. We must pray with confidence for our God is kind and merciful.

A Simple Prayer

Most Heavenly Father, I come to you with an open heart.

Pour your grace out upon me. My wants are many but my needs are few.

All I ask is that you provide me with your grace so that I might live as your disciple.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 11:48:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Have you ever heard someone speak and marveled at how eloquently the words came from their mouth. They seemed to have everything just right. That’s how the disciples must have felt when they watched Jesus pray to his Father. The love that flowed between the two must have been overwhelming to those watching. The disciples wanted to learn how to pray with the same expression of love that was evident in the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son. This may seem like a very strange request, especially since Jews were very devoted to prayer. But Jesus must have been awesome to watch pray. His praying must have been inspirational to those who saw him. I’m sure they were expecting some long drawn out teaching, but Jesus responds with a simple response.

Jesus responds to his disciples with the Lord’s Prayer; a simple yet confident prayer. It begins with a recognition of who God is - “Father, hallowed be thy name.” In the introduction, we recognize that God is Lord of All and that He is sacred. Then we recognize the fact that God’s kingdom is here among us on earth – “your kingdom come.” It is here among us! We just need to open our eyes and see it. This is more than a statement, it is a request to bring forth the Kingdom that we may experience it for ourselves. In this statement, we recognize that we are building the Kingdom of God through the will of God. In the end, we must recognize what creates a barrier to the Kingdom of Heaven; sin. We must acknowledge not that we are sinners, but at the same time we must be willing to forgive those who have trespassed against us. How can we truly express the love between the Father and Son unless all barriers of hatred are removed? To help us in our activities, we must also humble ourselves to understand where our treasures comes from. It is our father in heaven who provides us the nourishment we need to go forth into the world to do his will. The Lord’s Prayer is simple, yet confident. Pray with confidence in the words our Father gave us. Listen to the words and understand what you are asking. God’s unending grace will free us from the traps and snares which cause us to sin.

A Simple Prayer

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread and

Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and

Do not subject us to the final test.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 11:48:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

How far are you willing to go to obtain eternal life? Jesus says its simple, “Love God with everything you have and love your neighbor even if he is your enemy.” Such simple words, yet so hard to do. In the parable in today’s Gospel reading, a priest and a Levite, both fellow Jews, leave the man on the side of the road to die, while the person least likely to help the man, the Samaritan a sworn enemy to the Jews, stops to render aid. Christ calls us to do the same, we are called to render aid to everyone, even to those who we do not want to render aid. So you’re probably asking, why didn’t the priest and the Levite stop and render aid. Because the man was bleeding and was considered unclean. No priest or Rabbi would have stopped and touched the man because it would have made them spiritually impure. But Christ tells us that these human rituals and laws do not surpass the requirement to help our fellow man, no matter who or under what circumstance.

We must be willing to help everyone who is in need of help. We must be willing to defend everyone who is being treated unjustly. The parable tells us that not only must we render aid to everyone, but we must also help our enemy get back on his feet. How far are you willing to go for your enemy? You must be willing to die to the views of the world. God did not give us hatred, it is a learned trait given to us in our fallen world. Hatred consumes the love that God has poured out for us. Hatred causes neighbors to kill neighbors. Hatred consumes our very soul. How can you go to heaven if you do not love and cherish all of the creations of God? Ask God to give you the strength to love those who you hate. Ask God to abolish the hatred in your soul so you can reach out to your enemy. How can you love God and hate one of his creations. We must treat our enemy with mercy.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, help me abolish the hatred which grows in my heart.

Help me to learn to love my neighbor as I love you.

May learn to have mercy for all as you have given mercy to me.

Yours in Christ

Michael F. Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:44:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Will you be exalted to heaven?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:13-16

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Today’s gospel reading probably has a very powerful punch for many of us. Jesus is fairly stern in His message, but at the same time He calls us into action. What does it take to be exalted into heaven, but to unconditionally accept Jesus Christ and his mission. We too are called to go among the people and preach his message, not necessarily in words, but truly in our actions. What is it that we are teaching those around us? Are we giving them clear guidance or do we send mixed signals? Remember, whoever listens to you, sees the message of God. So often our actions speak much loader then any words. People judge us based on what we do and not necessarily on what we say. If we lead by bad example, then we tell others it is okay to do the same. They believe that this is the message from Christ himself. If we truly humble ourselves before Christ and take that same humility forth into our community, then people will hear the true message from God. You need to ask yourself some very simple questions. If Jesus were to visit our community, what would he say? Would he be happy about what he sees? If He visited your school, would he praise the activities of the students? If he visited your church, would He complement us or, would He issue the same warnings he gave Chorazin and Bethsaida?

Jesus’ mission was to go out to the communities and present the Word of Good. He traveled from community to community preaching the Good News, healing the sick and performing miracles before the people. To initiate change in our community, we must be open to the message and allow the grace of God to work in us. The Gospels are life-giving words that save us from eternal destruction. They bring us closer to God. The Gospel is the light which will leads us to the narrow gate of heaven. Through the words of Christ, we can find salvation. Jesus was upset because Chorazin and Bethsaida ignored his teaching. His anger was directed at their sinful way and the lack of concern for their salvation. He was angry out of love, not hatred. He loved them so much the He does not want them to destroy their souls. He wants all of us to join him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you hear the word of God or are you indifferent? Take time today to reflect on that question. Take time today to decide whether you will put his words into action. It is time to get up and hear the call.

A Simple Prayer

My Heavenly Father, open my ears to hear your word.

Give me the strength to put your words into action.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:19:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5,10

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

Today is the Memorial of the Guardian Angles. It is on this day we celebrate God’s legion of angles who job it is to protect us and guard us from evil. We know from today’s Gospel reading that we each have an angel in heaven who is looking upon the face of God. I think we have lost touch with the idea of our Guardian Angel. In today’s gospel reading, the disciples of Jesus want to know "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" In answering the question, Jesus points to a child, someone who has no social standing in society, someone who is simple and innocent. So why did Jesus use a little child? It’s simple, a child is the most innocent of beings. He give them Angels to protect them and to pray for them. A child does not express hatred, they do not allow pride to control them, and their faith is uncompromising. Their life is simple and without the complications. It is the grace of humility that all children possess that Jesus says we too must possess to be great. We must receive the children of God because they truly reflect Jesus. They are innocent, pure and tender hearted.

Jesus, understanding the pride that was in the hearts of his disciples, warned His followers, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Jesus tells us that the small defenseless child has extra protection from the angels. The angels serve as their body guard and their champion. If you do anything to hurt or corrupt one of these young children of God, their Guardian Angel will plead their case before God. However, each of us is also given an angel to protect us from evil and to help guide us through life. We too can call upon our guardian angel to not only help us when we are in trouble, but to help those in need. I remember one time talking with a very young child about being sick and not feeling well. That child offered me her guardian angel to help make me feel better. The purity and innocence of this offering from this young child is the same innocence of love that God expresses for all. To deny a child is to deny the love that God has created in that child because each child is not only innocent but a gift from God.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, teach me to have faith like a humble child.

Teach me to relive that innocence I had when I a child.

May I become a guiding light to lead others to you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:44:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

In a world filled with violence and revenge, today’s gospel reading has a very important message. On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus decided to travel through Samaria, a territory which was not friendly to the Jews. Even more importantly, Jesus wanted to stay in a Samaritan village, but he was not welcomed because he was going to Jerusalem. In their anger, the two disciples wanted to bring down “fire from heaven” to destroy the village. How often do we hear the same retaliatory remarks because someone has not welcomed us? It is easy to respond with hatred and a desire to kill when we are not welcomed. This response is so often the first response when someone snubs or rejects us. Our first response is often one of violence.

Because someone rejects us, we want to respond with violence. But Jesus calls for us to be tolerant of others, to respect their views and to take a peaceful position. Jesus’ eyes were already set on Jerusalem and his final destination. He knew his journey would lead him to the cross and on that journey he would be rebuffed by not only Samaritans, but by his fellow Jews. He knew that he would be crucified for the very people who rejected him and still he went to the cross for their salvation. It was the love of Christ for all of man that allowed him to be tolerant of the hatred. When we are rejected, we too must keep our eyes on the cross. We must not respond with violence, but with love and compassion. We must understand that we too are journeying to Jerusalem and the cross. If we retaliate with fire, we will lose our way.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, give me the strength to love those who do not love me.

Give me the strength to reach out with compassion for those who snub me.

Help me to stay the journey so I do not lose sight of the cross.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:42:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Today is the Feast of the three Archangels – Sts. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. It is through these angels that we are protected from Satan’s minions.

Gospel Reading: John 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

You got to wonder what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree. Was he praying to God? Was asking God to give him faith? Did he ask God for something? In today's gospel reading, Nathanael is really questioning whether Jesus is truly the Son of God. Unfortunately, we do not have the advantage of the previous part of this reading. In the preceding passage, Phillip announces to Nathanael that he has found the Messiah. Nathanael is rather obstinate about Jesus when Nathanael says to Phillip, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Not only did he question Jesus' authenticity, he kind of smacked him a little for being from the other side of tracks. Phillip challenged Nathanael to “come and see.”

There are times in our life when we too can become skeptical about the Son of God. Jesus is present before us in so many ways, yet we do not let him fully into our lives. We allow doubt and denial to form a wall barricading the door to our soul. Because of our skepticism, we might ask the question, "Was He real?" Did Jesus really die on the cross? Did He rise from the dead? If we question, then how do we find the faith to believe? Instead of arguing with Nathanael, Philip invites him to "come and see". He knew that a personal encounter with Jesus would open his heart.

There is nothing I can say to make you believe and there is nothing I can do to make you have faith. You must "come and see." Jesus invites us every Sunday to His alter to "come and see" the miracle of the Eucharist. We also witness His great works in the miracles we see every day around us. He invites us to come and see the Gospels. Think of the retreats that you attended and how you felt after the retreat. You probably didn't want to go to the retreat, but afterwards your heart was opened. Jesus opened Nathanael's heart so he could witness Christ. If we "come and see" Christ, He too will open our hearts. Once our hearts are open, the Kingdom of heaven will flow in and He will give us faith.

A Simple Prayer

God I want to come and see the goodness of the Lord.

Open my heart and fill it with the Holy Spirit so I do not doubt.

Give me the strength to bring people to you so they can come and see.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:34:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“But who do you say that I am?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Christ asks us to answer a simple question; “Who do you say that I am?” How do you respond to this question? Peter responds, “The Christ of God.” In this passage, we see that the apostles finally realize that Jesus is the Christ Messiah. They identify him as the priest, king and profit to all of mankind. It was by the faith placed in Peter by God that Peter recognized who Jesus was. They do not have the hindsight benefit that we have. Jesus has not been resurrected. No one on earth could have given him this faith. It had to come from God. We too are given that same faith, but do you see Jesus through the eyes of your faith? Do you see Christ in your daily life? To see Christ for who He is, one must have faith. Faith is something that needs to be exercised. And from time to time, our faith may be challenged and put it to the test. If you do not exercise your faith, your belief in God might fail when it is challenged.

This gospel goes beyond just having faith, this readings was also a prophecy of Jesus’ upcoming passion and death. Jesus tells them that, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” He tells his disciples this so they can be prepared for what lies ahead. Jesus lets them know that he must suffer before he can be truly glorified. Jesus freely accepted his fate and embraced what was going to happen to him. We all must face suffering in our lives just as Jesus did when he was crucified on the cross. We can either allow the suffering to control our lives or we can endure the suffering as a sacrifice to God in Heaven. On the cross Jesus defeated Satan and the powers of sin. Jesus’ own suffering and death on the cross gave us eternal life and freedom from the slavery of sin. Suffering provides the same grace for us. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit we can endure the suffering. Our knowledge of Christ the Redeemer encourages us to carry our cross and to live the gospels. Do not let suffering lead you from God, but closer to God. Let the suffering strength your faith in Christ.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are my light and my salvation.

Take my life and make it yours now and forever.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:31:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“They set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ empowers the Twelve to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News about the Kingdom of Heaven. He sent them not only to proclaim the Word, but also to heal the sick. Christ not only empowered the Twelve, He also empowered all the generations to come to do the same. We have all been given special graces of the Holy Spirit through our baptism and we are re-nourished through the power of the Eucharist and our participation in the sacraments to continue the mission of Christ in this world. The Word of God has the ability to change your life and to set you free from pain and suffering. Through the Gospel we find salvation and eternal life. We defeat death and sickness, pain and suffering for the glory of God in heaven. We find salvation from sickness, heartache and every earthly infliction. God gave us the same power he gave to the original Twelve. We too can change the world by preaching the gospel not only in words, but in our actions. We can become the beacon of light which leads others to the narrow gate to eternal life.

What is most interesting about today’s Gospel is Jesus’ instructions to the Twelve. Jesus tells them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.” He tells the Twelve that to truly preach the Gospel, they must separate themselves from the earthly treasures that keep us from seeing Christ in the world and finding the Kingdom of God. We must release the burdens which tie us to earth and keep us from heaven. How can we ask others to sacrifice if we are not willing to sacrifice ourselves? The more earthly treasures we give up, the more room we make for Christ in our lives. If our life is filled with new cars, the latest electronic gadgets and new clothes, how can we find space for Christ? Do you set aside time for others in need? Do you set aside time for your family and friends? Do you set aside time for Christ? As you reflect upon your conscience today, ask yourself what material items keep you from total surrounding to God.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, you gave me the power to proclaim the gospel.

Give me the power to use these gifts to bring others to your table.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 11:37:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

This reading always shocks me when I read it. Jesus appears to blow-off his mom. How much trouble would you be in if you didn’t acknowledge your mom. After reading the Gospel, it might appear that Jesus is rebuking his family. His family comes to see him but because of the crowds they cannot get near him. He is told of their desire, but Jesus responds, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Did he just rebuke his mom? If I would have done this, my mom would have come unglued on me. There is no doubt that Jesus loved his mother very much, but today’s message helps us understand the depth of the relationship we should seek with God. He is calling all of us to be one of his siblings. God never intended humans to be alone. In the beginning when God created man and he was alone, God saw that was not good and Adam was lonely. To respond to this solitude, God created a companion for Adam. Man formed a relationship with woman. In today’s gospel, God is telling us that while the relationship with your family is important, it is nothing unless that relationship is centered on God. Only through your relationship with God can you elevate your earthly relationships. All relationships should include the communion with God. To be in communion with God, we must participate in the Word. We must willingly to allow God to take control of our life and lead us to Him.

Being a good Christian is more than following the Ten Commandments, it is about establishing a relationship with God and making him head of your family. Today’s gospel challenges us to take the relationship deeper by elevating the importance of that relationship. By making your relationship with God the most important relationship in your life, we commit to a relationship of love. Any relationship founded on true love includes trust, commitment, loyalty, kindness and compassion. If we have this type of relationship with God, it will flow down into our other relationships. It will become the foundation for all relationships we form on earth. Every relationship you form on earth should mirror your relationship with God. Your relationship with other men and women should be Christ centered. The relationship should mirror the relationship you would have with Christ.

A Simple Prayer

My Heavenly Father, I love you and cherish you.

I desire a relationship with you.

May all my relationships mirror the one you desire from me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:11:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Jesus’ mission was to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God; to open our eyes and ears to the message of our Father in heaven. So often we hear the stories of the twelve men who dedicated their lives to God. But in addition to the Twelve, Jesus was joined by a number of women who dedicated their lives to his mission. They not only gave of their time but they gave from their coffers. All people, both men and women, were given the call to follow Jesus. He called the rich and the poor, the clean and the unclean. These people not only dedicated their lives, they dedicated their resources to provide the support for Christ on his mission. When Christ calls us to spread the good news, He is not only calling us to bring ourselves, we must be willing to bring all our resources to help bring people to Christ. These women dedicated their lives and their resources to support the mission of Christ. We must be willing to commit everything to the mission of God because nothing is more important than bringing forth the Kingdom. We must remember that everything we have, all our riches, all our treasures are a gift from God. How we use these treasures is how we thank God for giving them to us.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, I hear your calling.

May my soul be set on fire so I have the strength to give everything I own.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:49:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:36-50

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus teaches a very important lesson about forgiveness. Why are we compelled to do the things that we do? A woman, who is described as a sinner or prostitute, greets Jesus and begins shower him with gifts of special reverence. “She stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.” What compelled her to prostrate herself before Christ except for the sorrowfulness for her sins. She came to the feet of Christ and bathed his feet with her tears. These tears expressed the contriteness of her heart. She was truly sorry for her sins and knew that she had offended our Father in heaven. On her knees, crying in sorrowfulness she expresses her remorse for who she is. It was her contrite heart that Jesus saw and forgave.

Many times we are blind to the actions of others and judge them wrongly. The Pharisee was rather indignant at what he saw. The Pharisee thought, “If this man were a prophet, he would know … that she is a sinner.” Jesus, knowing the inner thoughts of the Rabbi, uses the moment to teach the man about forgiveness. It is obvious that the grace of God has filled the woman with repentant sorrow. It is this repentant sorrow that compels her to kneel at the feet of Jesus. It is also the hardness of the Pharisee’s heart that causes him to wrongly judge the motives of the woman. Out of pure love, the woman worships Christ. In response to her act of love Jesus forgives the woman of her sins. Because of his blindness to the truth, the Pharisee cannot see the forgiveness. In his blindness, the Rabbi does not even greet Jesus with the customary greeting yet the woman used precious oil which would have been extremely valuable.

The real message here is that the woman, through her own humility, fell prostate at his feet and showed true love and compassion for Christ. Because of this demonstration, Jesus says, “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” We are all sinners. Are you willing to fall prostrate before him and ask for true forgiveness? Do you love him enough to spend the valuable perfume to anoint him? Do you shed tears over your sins? Do you open yourself to the grace and unlimited mercy of God? We can take the position of the Pharisee and reject God’s love or we can take the position of the sinner and accept God’s love. When you take time to examine your conscience and evaluate your sins, you are at the feet of Christ. What you do while you are at the feet of Christ tells God what is truly on your heart. It is through the humility of reconciliation that we shed the tears that open us up to true forgiveness. It is through our faith, Christ’s grace and love, that we are saved.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I fall to your feet.

A weep in sorrow because I am a sinner.

Let me anoint you with my tears and my sorrows.

I give these things up to you my Lord so I can be filled with your grace.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 11:47:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

When Jesus spoke to his disciples, his message must have fallen on deaf ears. Jesus was disappointed at the Israelites because they were not excited to hear his message. Can you imagine Jesus coming and speaking at church and you yawn in boredom? Or even worse, you completely ignore him while you’re talking with your friends or fall asleep. Can you image him coming and getting mad at him because He celebrates with sinners, beggars and prostitutes? The Israelites were “bored” with Jesus’ message. They did not want to hear what he had to say. They yawned at him and made up excuses not to be with him. Is this not our reaction when we hear Jesus? Do we try to avoid going to be with God?

Are you excited to be able to celebrate the Eucharist or do you makeup excuses to miss Mass? Anytime you have the opportunity to engage the Word, whether through formation, fellowship, adoration, or reconciliation, you should dance with joy because God is with you in a very special way. Jesus gave us the sacraments so we could have a life-long encounter with Christ. When we meet Christ in the sacraments, we should praise God with all the same fanfare we celebrate New Year’s. The Israelites were “bored” because they could not see the greatness of the Lord. But it is out of our blindness that we cannot see the celebration which Christ has brought to us. We let the devil enter the picture to divert our eyes from the true happiness we should experience when we are with Christ. God is piping us a beautiful song, we should stand and dance with the Lord. We should get lost in his celebration.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to hear your music and celebrate,

May the good news of gospel fill my heart with joy and love

So I may serve you here on Earth.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:36:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

Today's message is quite clear, those that suffer on earth will be rewarded in the Kingdom of God. Those who sacrifice everything for God and give up all the earthly items will find a special joy in heaven. I have heard many a preacher say that someone must be blessed because they are rich or that they have a good job. Not that these people cannot be blessed, but this implies that those who have nothing are being punished by God. Today’s gospel reading tells us something quite different. The truly blessed people are those who have had to sacrifice everything for God. Those are the people who one would expect to be soured by their position in society. Christ tells us that if you are poor on earth because of your love for Him, you will be rich in heaven. Or, if you are criticized and made fun of because of your relationship with Christ, you will find great joy in heaven. We will all suffer and experience some degree of pain, suffering, sickness, and even death. However, some people appear to be burdened with an abundance of pain and suffering, yet they still find great solace in our Father in heaven. It may even appear that a dark cloud is just sitting over their head, yet they give off a bright ray joy. They suffer, yet they find happiness.

Why does God allow us to suffer? Why must people be poor and homeless? We are called to have faith in God and offer our suffering to him. This offering transcends earthly happiness and allows us to reach a spiritual happiness we will ultimately find in the kingdom of heaven. We have all seen people who have absolutely nothing, yet they laugh and have fun. They are content with what God has given them and they take satisfaction in their simple lives. Why are they not sad? The word Beatitude literally means happiness. True happiness comes from the simple gift of God’s grace and understanding our relationship with Him who created us. Are you really happy if you are given everything? Do we not get bored with material things to only want more? Then we become bored with this stuff and want even more. Is that really happiness? How long does that brand new iPhone or Xbox keep you happy? True happiness is found in the Beatitudes. This message is really trying to tell us that the poor are not held captive to material things and therefore can see the things that bring true happiness. They can see the Kingdom of God because their site is not blinded by greed for earthly materials. To find true happiness in heaven, we will need to empty our lives of those things that prevent us from seeing God. This is why we are asked to fast, pray and give alms. During this time, we separate ourselves from the earthly things and allow our souls to unite with God in Heaven. These are things we typically do during lent; however, we are called to live Lent year round, not just during the Lenten season.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I desire to find your happiness,

Give me the strength to separate myself from the earthly things that keep me from you.

I hunger for your love.

May my suffering allow me to see you more clearly.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:31:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

In today’s gospel reading, we see that Jesus called forth from his disciples a group of twelve. Jesus spends all night in prayer and discernment with His Father in heaven before selecting the twelve men who would become the first leaders of the Church. It says that he named them his Apostles. The word apostle means somebody who tries to persuade others to share in an idea or cause. These twelve men became the chief spokesperson for Christ.

You would think that he would call forth the rich, the wealthy and the politically connected. But instead he calls forth the ordinary, the poor, the laborers and fisherman to be his Apostles. The job of the twelve was to go forth and invite the people of Israel to be Disciples of Christ. Eventually the twelve would be sent beyond the borders of Israel and bring Christ to the entire world. These twelve Apostles were given special gifts of the Holy Spirit to help them form the Church and grow it into the vessel which it has become today. These twelve men became the very foundation from which the church was built. However, the church was not complete. We too are called to be Disciples of Christ.

He calls us by name to help spread the Word of God to the world and to continue to foster and build the Church. We are all graced with the Holy Spirit to lay down our worldly belonging and sacrifice the comfort of our own homes to go out to bring others to his banquet. As we are filled with the Eucharist, we are called to bring the Eucharist to others so that they too can be filled with the body and blood of Christ. It is easy to say “I can’t,” but God gives us the strength to say “I will” through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If we seek Christ, we can be healed of the things that torment us. Seek Christ and touch him for the power will come forth to strengthen you and heal you.

A Simple Prayer

Most heavenly Father, I reach out to you for your healing power.

Inflame my heart so I can go out and spread the Word of God.

I am here Lord, take my life and do with it as you will.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:39:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In today’s Gospel reading, we hear both the genealogy of Christ and the commitment of Joseph. So why do we need to know our genealogy? It helps us understand who we are and where we come from. We hear that Jesus is a direct descendant of Abraham, the Father of God’s chosen people and of the house of David, the King of Israel. This genealogy fulfills the Old Testament scriptures which promised that a descendant of the house of David will come to save us from our enemies. The linage presented in Matthew confirms that Christ is the promised Messiah, the Son of Man sent to save us. But it is not only about knowing where we come from, it is also about knowing that God has called us to do special things.

Joseph has just found out that Mary is pregnant with Jesus and they are not officially married yet. Being a just man and not wanting to shame Mary, he resolves to divorce her quietly. But an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid …” When he woke up he did as he was commanded by the angel. This story has two great messages. The first message is the willingness of Joseph to obey the will of God. His fiancé is pregnant and they are not married. How embarrassing that would be for his future wife, yet Joseph listened and obeyed the angel of God. The second message, which is more subtle in this Gospel reading, is the faith and trust of Mary. Mary also has to trust in God and have faith that Joseph will take care of her and provide for her. In the time of Christ, Mary would likely have been stoned or cast out of the community. This was a huge commitment by both.

We too are called to be obedient to the will of God no matter what He asks us to do, no matter how embarrassing, and no matter how uncertain the outcome. The Holy Spirit comes down upon us and gives us many gifts wrapped in strange packaging. We are called to use those gifts to spread the word of God, to make way for the Kingdom of God. We are also called to have great trust and faith in God. We need to trust that he knows what he is doing. In our daily lives, it is so easy to get caught up in the materialistic aspects of “All I want is…” when I should be saying yes to the angel of God when he calls. We should be willing to take the time to reflect on the gifts which God has given us and give him thanks and praise for these gifts are given to us freely without any expectations of return. We should reflect on our talents which were given to us by God. We should decide whether we are using our gifts how God intended us to us them. We must be willing to sacrifice the material gifts that we receive for the spiritual gifts which are wrapped up in the paper of the Holy Spirit. We should celebrate the family that we have and blessing that we were given. We should celebrate the gift of Christ in our lives. Once we accept these gifts from God, we can truly appreciate the other material gifts which we receive.

A Simple Prayer

God, you give me more graces than I deserve. Give me the strength to use those gifts to your satisfaction.

May I have the obedience of Joseph and the faith of Mary to use the gifts which you have given me.

Your son was the greatest gift of all for he came to forgive us our sins; may I also forgive those who sinned against me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:27:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is being challenged by the scribes and the Pharisees. These Jews were generally very legalistic and believed in the literal meaning of the law. They said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers; … but yours eat and drink.” Fasting was a major part of the Jewish lifestyle so why was Jesus letting his disciples avoid fasting? Jesus replied, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” So what is Jesus really trying to tell the disciples? The disciples of Jesus were feasting in the presence of Christ. They were celebrating His very presence among them. Now was not the time to fast, but the time to celebrate because in the near future he was going to be taken away from them.

Jesus explains this in a parable about placing new wine in old wine skins. If you place new wine in old skins, the fermenting wine will cause the wine skin to burst. New wine needs to be placed in new skins. Jesus is trying to explain to the disciples that there are times when old traditions are appropriate and times when we need to let the new traditions begin. This relationship/discipleship with Jesus was new and exciting. Jesus filled them with the Holy Spirit and they were alive and celebrating. Why would you fast when you’re feasting on the Holy Spirit? While there is nothing wrong with old traditions; new traditions can be just as rewarding. And in this case, bring us closer to God. This also goes for fasting and feasting; there is a time to fast and a time feast. When we walk with Christ we are feasting in his presence, but when we need to atone for our sins, it is a time to fast.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit so I can feast in your presence.

Help me to find your presence in my prayers and my fasting.

May you become a tradition in my life which frees me from the bonds of sin.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 11:29:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Peter? You’re in your own boat minding your own business when along comes God. Of all the people He could pick, He picked Peter. He climbs in his boat and now Peter has an up close and personal seat with Christ. When Jesus is preaching to the crowd, Peter has the best seat in the house. From this story, you know that Peter must be special, he has the prime seat in the house. Now Peter is also probably tired and weary. He has been up all night fishing and hasn’t caught a thing. He was busy putting his nets away when Jesus asks him to go out and try again. Peter must of thought to himself, “Is this guy crazy, I’m ready to go home and go to bed and this guy wants me to dirty my nets again!” He tells Jesus, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing!” But somehow he is touched by Jesus’ words and does as he commands.

How often does God call us into service, yet we find excuses to ignore him. When we encounter Christ in our lives and He asks us to be His servant, a lot of times our first response is to reject his request either out of fear, insecurity or doubt. But once we abandon our fear and follow His commands, we find that our reward is more abundant than we could imagine. Our nets are full and we need help bringing in our catch. At that point, we are so excited about the catch that we do not realize that our boat is on the verge of sinking because we do not know how to handle this new fragile faith and fulfillment. Our faith is so fragile. It is easy to get discouraged either because you have been overloaded or because you do not know how to handle the cross you have been given. But if you follow Christ, He will take care of you. Even though the boats were overload, they made it safely to shore. He will make sure that your boat stays afloat even in troubled waters. The more we grow in faith; the easier it is to follow Christ. But not only must we follow Christ, we are asked to lead others to his way. We are all call to be “fishers of men.”

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, fill my heart with your compassion and love.

May I learn to use this love and compassion to lead others to you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 11:31:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“They were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

What does it mean when it says that Jesus “spoke with authority?” Young Rabbis would rely on the teachings of the prophets and the Rabbis that came before them. Jesus did not need to refer to the prophets for he was God himself speaking, he was the Word made Flesh – He spoke with “authority”. Therefore, his word was the Word of God, there is no higher authority. His word was so powerful, he was able to call the demons forth from the people they infected. Jesus challenged his disciples to define who has control over our life. In today’s gospel, we see that the man’s life was possessed by an unclean spirit. His life was controlled by this unclean spirit, but in an encounter with Jesus Christ, the unclean spirit was banished from him. We too may have unclean spirits in our lives who have control over our lives. These demons are the addictions and actions which separate us from God. When we encounter Jesus in our life, He has the power to overcome and control these demons. Through his authority He can destroy the demons and free you from their grip. At times these demons are so intertwined in our lives, we do not recognize them or we discount the power they have over us. To recognize these demons, we need to examine our lives. We also need to recognize that only Jesus has the authority and power to free us from our demons. It is through our own submission to the will of God, that we will be freed from demons which consume our lives.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you are the supreme ruler,

You are God of all.

Call my name and I will come to be your servant

For your word is my authority.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:28:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

As the new school year begins, we so often become focused on what we are going to do this year. We are concerned about homecoming, classes, getting the best parking spot and so on. Often we hear the saying, “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.” But what if today was the last day of your life. What if there were no more tomorrows for you? Today’s gospel reading has two stern warnings. The first is that we will not know the time of our death and the second is that we better be ready for our death when it comes. Jesus compares death to a thief. He tells us “if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.” The same thing applies to us. If we knew when we were going to die, we could prepare for our death and avoid the unpleasantries we may experience during our final judgment. If we could actually wait for the last minute to ask for absolution from our sins, we wouldn’t have to worry about the things that keep us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. We could party with the drunks and dance with the sinners with no threat of the consequences. But because we do not know the time nor the place, Jesus tells us that we must always be prepared. Jesus says, “Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.” This parable tells us that we should live life like today as if it is the last day of our life.

Jesus’ second warning tells us what will happen if we are not prepared for our final judgment. Jesus says, “the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” In other words, Christ says we will spend eternity in hell. Basically, if we live life among the wicked, with those that have no regard for the laws of the church, then we will spend eternity crying and weeping with the rest of the unrepentant sinners for salvation. However, if we live out the gospels, if we bring Christ into this world through our actions and our words, then we will be prepared and will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven. Each morning when you wake, first thank God for allowing you another opportunity to live and help bring forth the Kingdom of Heaven for others and then ask yourself, “What if today were my last day on earth? Am I prepared?” If you’re not prepared, take today to seek out the salvation you need to purify your soul.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, help me to be vigilant in preparation for my end time;

Help me be strong so that I can be ready when death comes.

I ask that your love and grace fill my heart with the passion to live the Gospels

So that I may enjoy eternity in heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:32:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

The past couple of Gospel readings dealt with warnings about our spiritual purity. The sixth woe, like the preceding ones, deals with our concern for our external image and neglects what is inside our hearts. Since contact with dead bodies, even when one was unaware of it, caused ritual impurity for the Jews, tombs were whitewashed so that no one would contract such impurity inadvertently. Jesus tells us that we cannot just whitewash over the filth, that we must truly purify our heart and soul. Just because we appear pure, God sees through the whitewash and sees the skeletons that we keep in our own closet. Christ is telling us that it is time to open the closet door and clean out the junk that we keep inside. It is time to get rid of the impurities in our life. Jesus warns that what truly corrupts a person is not what we see on the outside but the impurity of our sinful attitudes, what we store up inside. Our pride, greed, sloth, envy, hatred, gluttony, and lust lead us to sinful behavior. It is the inward reality of our hearts which will be judged. It is our internal desires which lead us to sin.

The last woe is the most serious indictment of all. It portrays the scribes and Pharisees as standing in the same line as their ancestors who murdered the prophets and the righteous. In spite of honoring the slain dead by building their tombs and adorning their memorials, and claiming that they would not have joined in their ancestors' crimes if they had lived in their days, the scribes and Pharisees are true children of their ancestors and are defiantly ordered by Jesus to fill up what those ancestors measured out. This order reflects the Jewish notion that there was an allotted measure of suffering that had to be completed before God's final judgment would take place. They not only neglected the poor and the weak, but they were intolerant towards anyone who challenged their idea of religion. That is why so many of the prophets who warned about tolerating evil desires and unjust behavior towards ones neighbor were persecuted and even killed by their own rulers and people. We see this more and more today. As people of faith try t defend their religious beliefs, they are battered down as criminals. People are being forced to compromise their belief and the church is being condemned for being righteous. As the church stands strong in her teachings about abortion, same sex marriage, the poor and the immigrant, society condemns her. Only the humble of heart can receive forgiveness and purity from God. It is through our humbleness that we receive the grace of true wisdom and understanding, pardon and healing. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to renew our minds and hearts and to teach us God's way of love and holiness. We must ask the Holy Spirit to purify our heart and mind and to fill us with the wisdom and understanding of God's word.

A Simple Prayer

Come Holy Spirit, purify my heart and mind.

Cleanse my inner body and rid my of the sins which corrupt my body.

Fill me with wisdom and understanding so that I can truly see heaven on earth.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:45:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

What is it that we are willing to give to God? In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is trying to refocus our vision of giving to include that which comes from the heart. The Jews at the time of Jesus gave 10 percent of all their material belongings, but neglected to consider their spiritual treasures which rested within their hearts. The treasures of judgment, mercy and fidelity are not physical items, but items which define our love for God and our compassion for others. So why the reference to the spices? What is the importance of a few simple spices from their earthly treasures? In the days of Christ, spices were used to cover up the spoiled tastes and smells of the food to make them palatable.

Jesus tells his disciples while it is important to have the spices, we must make sure that our souls are not spoiled. We must look inward to our own heart before we look outward. We must make sure that we are worthy, body and soul, for the Lord. To cleanse our soul, we must first know how to tell if it is dirty. We do this by the process of examining our conscience. This is an exercise we should do daily. Every evening you should kneel down and reflect on the things that transpired that day; the good things and the bad things. You should look at the things that moved you closer to the Kingdom of Heaven and those things that diverted us. You should reflect on how you can make yourself better and reflect on the sins that kept you from God.

By looking inward, we check to make sure that our soul is clean. If our soul is truly clean, then our outer image will also be clean. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.” It does no good for us to look clean if internally we are dirty. Would you drink from a cup when the inside of the cup is unclean? Who cares what the outside looks like if the liquid is in contact with filth. Through the examination of conscience, we make ourselves aware of the things that make our soul unclean. However, to truly purify the soul, we must go to reconciliation. Reconciliation is the dishwasher for our souls. We go in dirty, and we come out clean – both inside and out.

A Simple Prayer

Most Heavenly Father,

Make me aware of my sins and trespasses,

Help me avoid these sins so my soul remains clean.

Fill my heart with your compassion and love

So I may find the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:27:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“One who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.' Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.' You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it."

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gets just little upset with the Pharisees because they are trying to outdo each other with their offerings. They put more worth in the offering itself instead of who it is being offered. What good is it to take your treasures to the altar when the purpose of your offering is to impress others? As they brought people to God, they required them to give large offerings to demonstrate their worthiness. Jesus tells them that it is not the offerings of gold and silver that make us worthy but the offerings from our heart.

What treasure do you bring to God’s altar? The gold on the altar does not make the altar any more valuable. Jesus tells them, “You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?” We cannot make God any more valuable then he already is. There is nothing we can give him that will make God more Godly. God asks us to make a full commitment to Him and not to earthly things which are placed on the altar. The offerings that we bring and the oaths that we make must be to the altar of God and not to our treasures. We should not measure our heavenly value by our earthly treasures but by the commitment we give to God from our hearts.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that “One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.” Today’s gospel reading is a direct attack on the Pharisees because they treasure the wealth of the items that are placed on the altar and not the God that makes the treasures valuable. To enter the Kingdom of heaven, to make it through the narrow gate, we too must put our allegiance in the hands of God. We must be willing to give our lives to God. We must be willing to turn it all over to create heaven here on earth.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you are my master and I am your servant.

My loyalty is to you and the things that are sacred,

For it is you that makes all things sacred.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

noreply@blogger.com (AndyD93) — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:25:00 +0000

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

Gospel Reading Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ lets us know the most important commandment, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” But he also tells us the second most important commandment – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Christ says that the second is like the first. If that’s the case, is it just as important as the first? When you think about the second, how can you obey the first without obeying the second? How can you love God and not your neighbor? If we have hatred or dissent for your neighbor, then you express the same feeling toward God.

The second commandment calls us to not only love our neighbor, but to love our neighbor as our self. We are to be ourselves to our friends, to our family, and to those who we do not even know. But most importantly, we must learn to love those that we hate. We must love absolutely everyone. The second commandment does not tell us to love our neighbor except those we do not like. So what does it mean to love your neighbor? It is simple. You must be willing to put your neighbor’s needs before your own needs. You must be willing to help them when they are in need. You must be able to feed them when they are hungry, clothe them when they are naked, hold them when they are sad and comfort them when they are sick. If we ignore our neighbor’s needs then we are ignoring the basic needs of good. The commandment calls for us to be charitable to all. As we would give to ourselves, we must give to our neighbor.

A Simple Prayer

Lord in Heaven, help me overcome the hatred in my life.

Give me the strength to open my arms to all my neighbors

That I might bring the love of God into their lives.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon