3rd Week of Lent 2024 - Wednesday - The pure of heart shall see God

 In the Office of Readings this morning from the Liturgy of the Hours, there is a passage by a saint named Theophilus of Antioch. Theophilus was the sixth bishop of Antioch. Ignatius, our patron, was the third bishop.

Writing 30-40 years after Ignatius, bishop Theophilus has a famous letter to a pagan name Autolycus. And Theophilus is writing to his pagan friend in order to convince him to become Christian. Throughout the letter, Theophilus presents arguments and explanations to address Autolycus's doubts and objections regarding Christianity. He contrasts the moral teachings of Christianity with the vices and immorality prevalent in pagan society, urging Autolycus to embrace the moral teachings of Christ.

And Theophilus has this great quote, he writes, “If you say, 'Show me your God,' I will say to you, 'Show me what kind of person you are, and I will show you my God” Theophilus knows that striving for moral purity will help Autolycus come to grasp Christ. For Purity of heart enables us to more clearly apprehend truth and apprehend God. Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”. 

This is why in our scripture readings today Moses and Jesus are both stressing the importance of following the law and following the commandments and teaching little ones to do the same. God desires that we come to behold his face. And that means striving for purity of heart.

Purity of heart involves adhering to God's commandments and living in accordance with His will. It includes refraining from sin and avoiding actions, thoughts, and attitudes that are contrary to God's standards of holiness. A pure heart fosters intimacy with God, allowing us to experience His presence. When we are in right relationship with God, our hearts are open to His love, guidance, and revelation.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” the Psalmist asks, “And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully."

Lenten repentance and Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving all help us to cultivate that purity of heart God wants for us.

Beloved, as we continue our Lenten journey, let us renew our commitment to lives of profound holiness and integrity—to purity of heart. Through our words and deeds shining with the light of Christ, may all peoples come to know and follow Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.

6th Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Faith without works is dead

One of the great encyclicals of Pope St. John Paul II is his encyclical on the fundamentals of morality called Veritatis Splendor, The Splendor of Truth. Every Catholic theology student studying moral theology will no doubt spend a lot of time with this powerful document. As one Catholic writer wrote, “there are encyclicals and then there are encyclicals” and the encyclical Veritatis Splendor is certainly one of the most important papal texts of modern history, in which the Holy Father gives a clear and systematic treatment of Catholic Moral Teaching.

Our choices in this life matter, our moral choices matter. And for Christians our moral choices flow from that fundamental choice to believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, that one choice, to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God matters. But for Christians, every choice matters, every action matters. Every free choice either promotes human flourishing or hinders. Every choice builds up the kingdom or dismantles it. Faith must be lived out in our actions.

The Holy Father writes in Veritatis Splendor, “It is urgent to rediscover and to set forth once more the authentic reality of the Christian faith, which is not simply a set of propositions to be accepted with intellectual assent. Rather, faith is a lived knowledge of Christ, a living remembrance of his commandments, and a truth to be lived out. A word, in any event, is not truly received until it passes into action, until it is put into practice. Faith is a decision involving one's whole existence. It is an encounter, a dialogue, a communion of love and of life between the believer and Jesus Christ, the Way, and the Truth, and the Life . It entails an act of trusting abandonment to Christ, which enables us to live as he lived, in profound love of God and of our brothers and sisters.”

The Holy Father certainly helps us to appreciate the teaching of St. James this morning on the nature of faith. Faith without works is dead. Without works, without the works of charity, without concrete acts of goodness, without obedience to the commandments of God and repentance from sin, without actions which flow from that communion with God, without actions reflecting the splendor of his truth, we are just play-acting. Faith must be evident in our choices or it’s not really faith.

It is by this faith that we are justified, we are made just, we are made righteous and holy. May faith lead us to the profound concrete acts of love of God and of our brothers and sisters for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the spread of the Christian faith throughout the world and in our neighborhood, that faith may be evidenced in the holy works of the members of our parish.

That the Holy Spirit may direct the appointment of a new Bishop for the Church of Cleveland.
That young people may seek Christ amidst all the filth and evils of the world, and for the protection of innocent human life from evil.
For healing for all those suffering disease, especially diseases without known cures, for the people of China and all people afflicted by the Coronavirus, and all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief, and For the Holy Father’s prayer intentions for this month: that the needs of migrants and victims of human trafficking may be heard and acted upon.
For the dead, for all of the souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Holy mass is offered.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith, we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.