February 14 2023 - St. Cyril & Methodius & the Flood of God's Mercy

 In the book of Genesis, we read about the origin—the genesis—of creation, of mankind, of nations and civilizations. But we also read about the sad genesis of sin. How even our first set of parents allowed selfishness and pride to dominate.

Due to original sin, humans are afflicted with selfish, lustful, violent, urges. And every sin, has ripple effects which effect our own lives and the lives of others. 

Yesterday, we heard how the sin of Adam and Eve had an effect in the lives of their children. Adam’s son Cain allowed resentment to transform into hatred and violence toward his brother Abel. Sin which is not handed over to God is a cancer. 

Today, we fast forward about a thousand years to the time of Noah. The generations descending from Adam had become numerous upon the earth, but the cancer of sin had become so unchecked, so rampant, the earth so corrupt with wickedness, that God sent a flood to purify creation.

Here God foreshadowed the purifying waters of baptism which mark an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness. 

Unchecked, sin will always have devastating effects in our lives. We are living through a time when so many have fallen away from God, sin and corruption can be seen rampant in every level of government, in our schools, in the brokenness of families, in the antagonism of nations. We do live in a time of great iniquity.

And the solution to sin, is of course, the One who has unleashed a new flood, not a flood of destruction, but a flood of new birth through the waters of baptism. We have been tasked to preach the Gospel, to teach the nations, and to baptize, to lead all peoples to the waters of new life. That’s our mission, that’s our task. 

Today, the Church honors Cyril and Methodius, blood-brothers from Greece who were impelled by the love of Christ and for souls to leave their native land to bring the Gospel to the Slavic people. Cyril and Methodius were tireless in laboring for the Gospel, even developing an entirely new alphabet so that the Scriptures could be read by the Slavic people. 

May the Holy Spirit inspire us, in our own way to leave our homes to lead others to Christ, to the new flood of God’s mercy, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

That all Christians may develop missionary hearts.

That amidst all the perversions and distractions of the world young people may be led to Christ.

For the hungry, sick, lonely, and heartbroken, for cures to disease and relief for the poor. 

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

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

February 14 2022 - Sts Cyril & Methodius (& Valentine) - Missionaries filled with charity

 Up until the reforms of Vatican II, today was the feast of St. Valentine. Valentine was a priest in 3rd century Rome. For being a Christian he was arrested, beaten, and beheaded, but not before he converted his jailor by performing a miracle of healing—Valentine cured the jailor’s daughter from blindness. 

Six centuries later, two Christian blood-brothers from Greece were impelled by the love of Christ and for souls to leave their native land to bring the Gospel to the Slavic people. Cyril and Methodius were tireless in laboring for the Gospel, even developing an entirely new alphabet, the Slavanic alphabet, also known as the Cyrillic Alphabet, named after St. Cyril—a new alphabet so that the Scriptures could be read by the Slavic people, and the Mass be celebrated in their language.

To celebrate both St. Valentine and Sts. Cyril and Methodius, it would be entirely appropriate to send someone a Valentine’s Card written in ancient Slavanic. 

And yet, Cyril and Methodius and Saint Valentine teach us that the greatest Valentine we can give to someone is to help them to know the love of Jesus Christ. Teaching them to read the great love letter from God, the Holy Scriptures, and to show them what it looks like for a soul to love God more than he loves himself.

These three holy men are powerful models for all of us, called to enter into the lives of strangers, in order to help them to know Christ. Cyril and Methodius developed an entire alphabet to help strangers know Christ. What will we do today? For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - 

For all Christians whose love for God and neighbor has grown lukewarm or has been compromised by serious sin, that the virtue of charity may be rekindled, and that all Christians may develop missionary hearts.

That young people may seek Christ amidst all the perversions and distractions of the world, and for the protection of innocent human life from evil.

For the hungry, sick, lonely, and heartbroken, for cures to disease and relief for the poor. 

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

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.