Requiem for my budgie

RIP Blueberry Budgie

Blueberry wasn't really my pet:  he was Bertie's companion.  My budgie was very needy, he always wanted my attention. Budgies are flock animals. So, I decided to let him have a pet.  He amd Blueberry were inseparable from the start.

Bertie & Berry

YouTube playlist:  BERTIE AND BERRY  

I took a lot of vids of the 2 of them. They enjoyed watching themselves on their TV (my fire tablet).

I'm very sad.  

When Berry was dying, Bertie hovered by him. I'm not sure if he realizes yet that his friend is gone.  He is flitting about and happy chirping, so if he does it doesn't seem to bother him much...yet.
 

Goodbye, little Blueberry.  

Precepts vs Restrictions

 

Hung on the gibbet built for Mordecai

 

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.  ~ Matthew 23

This has always been one of my favorite Gospels as it calls to task those times when we make membership in Mother Church a more onerous task than it is. Often condition upon condition are piled up when there are no such barriers keeping the little ones from the Christ.

Once baptized, we need only meet the Precepts of the Church:

More than this, folks are just making stuff up and being a stumbling block.

Pride & Discernment

May you learn from us not to go beyond what is set down, so that none of you will grow self-important by reason of his association with one person rather than another. Who confers any distinction on you? Name something you have that you have not received. If, then, you have received it, why are you boasting as if it were your own? ~Corinthians 4

Yes, Almighty God has just showered me too with gifts and often I stumble by being arrogant rather than humble, boasting rather than keeping silence. I have, though, learned to pay more attention to those listening to me: to say what they need to hear rather than just what I want to say.  In that way, I have learned so much more about my brethren in Christ as they respond in kind. (I never knew that she also hailed from the Chicago South Suburbs! Wonderful!)

How then account for the fact that these men, who in Christ’s lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once Christ was dead—if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their courage? ~ St. John Chrysostom

Fr. Jerome Murphy-O'Connor would take issue with the claim that the disciples from Galilee were backward, illiterate men.  That they lacked the courage to stand with Jesus at His Passion cannot be denied. Even after His Resurrection, they cowered until they were filled at Pentecost by the Holy Spirit. Then, there was no stopping them.

So I must learn to follow their example. Be slow to speak until the Spirit gives you the right words for that time, for that place, and to those with whom you speak.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Bartholomew, called Nathaniel in John's Gospel.

My older child Stephen Joseph, chose Batholomew as his confirmation name; his best friend in high school, also a Stephen Joseph, chose Nathaniel.  So, I used to refer to them as (Stephen Joseph) squared, lol. My younger one chose Vincent, "for the poor" she said, and also to honor our Naples bobczka Vincenta.

Today as I often do, I stopped on a corner of our church after communion to pray for my children.  Phillip, who also fed the poor, is there with Bartholomew who he brought to meet the Christ.  May my kids both some day, I pray, open the gifts they have received that now lie unopened and dusty on the shelf in their closets!

Wisdom from St. Ambrose

Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord,  

Who carry out plans that are not mine, 

who weave webs that are not inspired by me, 

adding sin upon sin. ~ Isaiah 30:1ff

Yeah, Isaiah, that pretty much sums it up.  Let the Lord drive! 

I was born on the Feast of St. Ambrose and am, like Monica, a widow praying for her children. So, I am always especially attentive when he speaks in our daily reading. Today, he discusses Psalm 49:7 and addresses our need for redemption.

We rarely hear the word "redeem" in every day discourse, unless redeeming a coupon for some good. I guess that analogy fits:  we ourselves are just a promise of something more, and we are set free by the Christ to fulfill God's purpose in us:

...He alone will redeem man, showing love greater even than that of brothers. He poured out his blood for strangers, as no one is able to do for a brother. He did not spare his own body in redeeming us from sin, but gave himself as the redemption of all...

 O Lord, grant that I may always give thanks for our redemption and be obedient - not rebellious - to Your plans for me through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

ANNUNCIATION ~ Ave Maria Oratorio

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, 
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

OUR LADY OF MERCY
St John the Evangelist Church, Naples, FL

Communion of Saints

" Dear brothers and sisters, so it is that day after day the Church offers us the possibility of walking in the company of Saints. Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote that the Saints constitute the most important message of the Gospel, its actualization in daily life, and therefore represent for us a real means of access to Jesus. The French writer Jean Guitton described them "as the colours of the spectrum in relation to light", because with their own tones and accentuations each one of them reflects the light of God's holiness. How important and useful, therefore, is the commitment to cultivate knowledge of and devotion to the Saints, alongside daily meditation on the Word of God and filial love for Our Lady! " ~ Pope Benedict, Audience, 20 Aug 2008 https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20080820.html

O how I loved our "Papa Benny"!!!  He was a scholar of exceedingly great gifts, yet his demeanor was an icon of gentleness.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, this kindly, gentle scholar was under the authority of his Pope and so cannot be held responsible for forbearance against the pedophiliacs as often charged. On becoming our leader, we all sighed with relief as he finally began to address the issue. Most of the worst offenders were silenced and moved to positions where they could no longer prey on the innocent.  The financial antics of those running the Vatican Bank also ceased.

As a teacher, few have attained his heights.  His writings inspire me very much. Of his encyclicals, my favorite is that on Christian hope, Spe Salvi.

While I grieved upon his resignation, I applaud his humility in recognizing that the problems before Mother Church were best fought by another.  In his retirement, this Papa was ever prudent, supportive, and helpful ... 

...At the end of his Pastoral Rule, Saint Gregory the Great urged a friend to offer him this spiritual accompaniment: “Amid the shipwreck of the present life, sustain me, I beseech you, by the plank of your prayer, that, since my own weight sinks me down, the hand of your merit will raise me up”. Here we see the awareness of a pastor who cannot carry alone what in truth he could never carry alone, and can thus commend himself to the prayers and the care of the people entrusted to him...           ~ words of Pope Francis' Funeral Homily.

May he rest in peace. Funeral mass of Pope Benedict

+++++++++

My Sicilian grandmother, mother of my mother, was named "Santina" i.e. the little saint. By this name, she had as patrons the full Communion of Saints from Mother Mary our Queen to the lowliest whose names are known only to Almighy God.  As I am named for my grandmother, I claim them, too.

 

Spiritual Warfare & My Sins in Waging Same

 From today's 2nd reading, by Pope Gregory the Great:

...for with wisdom they teach the wayward while showing a courageous contempt for outward hostility; the straying sheep they set on the right path by their teaching; the attacker they suffer and overcome. For they have nothing but patient scorn for the enemy who moves against them, but they sympathize with their weaker fellows and bring them back to the safe way, opposing the former lest they lead others astray and fearing for the latter lest they completely lose sight of the truly upright life...

For many years now, I have been preoccupied by sins of the tongue, especially my own. But I now find them most painful when I witness them in otherwise good people.  Each election year, such reach a fever pitch as my brethren divide themselves as if an election were a football game rather than a deadly serious choice of matching a job to who best can perform it.

My greatest sin was once scandal, a common one among the intellectually gifted.  The Lord has gifted me with a high IQ, excellent teachers, and a very broad knowledge base. Often instead of properly using His gifts, shocked those to whom I spoke. This is tied to another, that of sharing truth with a weaker person who is not prepared to receive it.  As we read in the Catechism

2488 The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.

Just because something is true does not mean that it should be publicly shared.  I thank God for schooling me and that I have learned when it may be best to be silent.

Now, I have been working on finding balance between sins of pride and acceptance of my gifts simply and without boasting.  I also seek to learn gentleness and humility as neither comes to me naturally.  Rather, others find me brash and overly aggressive.

My help has been reading the letters of "St. Jeannie" aka St. Jane Francis de Chantal, foundress with St. Francis de Sales of the Visitation Order. She has been trying to get my attention for years, but I didn't know why. As a widow, she is one of my patrons but my intuition was that there was more, and there is. The Discernment Guide from the Order was very helpful in contemplating meekness and humility in demeanor.

Closing prayer of the Jewish Amidah (the 18 blessings):

My God, keep my tongue and my lips from speaking deceit, and to them that curse me let my soul be silent, and like dust to all. Open my heart in Your Torah, and after [in] Thy commandments let me [my soul] pursue. As for those that think evil of [against] me speedily thwart their counsel and destroy their plots. Do [this] for Thy name's sake, do this for Thy right hand's sake, do this for the sake of Thy holiness, do this for the sake of Thy Torah. That Thy beloved ones may rejoice, let Thy right hand bring on help [salvation] and answer me…

Salt and Light

 

...For when he says: You are the salt of the earth, he is indicating that all mankind had lost its savor and had been corrupted by sin. Therefore, he requires of these men those virtues which are especially useful and even necessary if they are to bear the burdens of many...

...Once again, “of the world”: not of one nation or twenty cities, but of the whole world. The light he means is an intelligible light, far superior to the rays of the sun we see, just as the salt is a spiritual salt. First salt, then light, so that you may learn how profitable sharp words may be and how useful serious doctrine. ~ St. John Chrysostom

In today's Office of Readings, we are treated to a commentary on Matthew by  St. John Chrysostom.  I say "treated" because he truly has the "golden tongue" for which he is named.  The Divine Liturgy that he authored, as well as the propers composef by his contemporary, St. Basil the Great, are used to this day in our sister Orthodox Churches as they celebrate Eucharist.  I took him as patron as we share a nickname.

Salt has many uses:

• Salting the land of a foe will destroy fertility of soil, making it impossible for any living plant to grow. (When Rome finally defeated Carthage after 3 wars, they salted their fields so that they would never challenge them again.)
• Next, salt is an essential mineral for our physical bodies. Too little salt in the bloodstream can have dire consequences that include coma and even death.
• Especially before refrigeration, dredging food like fishes in salt preserved them.
• Finally, salt can give flavor or heighten the taste of our foods. 

It is the last of these meanings, restoring what "savor...had been corrupted by sin" that Our Lord means when He calls the Church salt.  Once we awaken the senses of our neighbors, it is then that we can light their path to return to true worship.

...If others lose their savor, then your ministry will help them regain it. But if you yourselves suffer that loss, you will drag others down with you...

MOSES - AARON - MIRIAM

 In today's Office of Readings, we hear the voice of the prophet Micah (Chaptrt 6 )

...For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,

from the place of slavery I released you;

And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam...

Think back and remember: according to Numbers 26: 57–59, Miriam and Aaron are true siblings of Moses, i.e. he shares their blood. By tradition, Miriam was much older than Moses (in fact, some traditions identify her with the midwife who delivered him); Aaron was perhaps 3 years his senior.

MOSES was called by the Burning Bush in the desert, in a land far from his peple where he had fled after murdering an Egyptian.   He had been raised as an Egyptian:  he was not even circumcized into God's Covenant when he met God face to face.  Yet he was chosen. In another way, we would think him unfit:  while God gave him the authority to speak "In His Name*", poor Moses had a speech impediment!  (According to a traditional Jewish midrash, Moses' impeded speech dated from infancy when the angel Gabriel had guided him to place a hot coal in his mouth.)

This is yet another example of the maxim, "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called".  So, the LORD gave him both his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam to serve as Moses' prophets.

* see my post earlier this week In His Name

Dormition of the Theotokos

Our sister churches also celebrate today, August 15th, the death and resurrection of the body of the Holy Mother of God under the name The Dormition (falling asleep).

Above is their icon - a window into heavenly truth - for today's Feast, for your meditations today; below is their traditional story.    

downloaded from https://www.goarch.org/dormition 

They traditionally use the Divine Liturgy composed by St. John Chrysostom today, as it is a Great Feast in their tradition as well as our own.  The following two prayers from today's liturgy were downloaded from the oca.org website:

In giving birth, you preserved your virginity. In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, and by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death (Troparion).

Neither the tomb, nor death, could hold the Theotokos, who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. For being the Mother of Life, she was translated to life, by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb (Kontakion).

In His NAME

 "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"

When we begin to pray, we do so in God's NAME. It is not under our own will and authority that we act:  rather, we do so in obedience to God and the promptings of His most Holy Spirit.  

The 2nd commandment of the decalogue treats of sins of blasphemy:

You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

The key word here is "Invoke": blasphemy is a much broader sin than simply not swearing or using ejaculations that include sacred words. If we claim to be Christians or Catholics and to speak AS such, we must be very mindful of what we do or say. We are meant to be light to the world, and if we come in His Name we must tread with care.

The catechism states:

2148 Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called."78 The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ's Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God's name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. the misuse of God's name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion. Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.79

The Epistle of James cited above discusses some of these criminal acts that profane the Name of God:

Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you? ~ Jas 2:5-7

Indeed, doing such acts is blasphemous. Our Lord Jesus Christ, though speaking the Truth, was condemned and put to death for blaspheming.

As confirmed Catholics, WE are "...he who comes in the name of the Lord..." That is what the sacraments of initiation do: they make us fit to act in God's NAME, as his little angels to other people.  Baptism births us into God's life, Eucharist infuses us into the very substance of God in every cell of our body and crevice of our spirit, and Confirmation commisions us with the authority to do His will "...on earth as it is in Heaven..."

The bouquet of 3 Virginities

white for the 1st virginity: of the infant, pure and perfect on her mother's arms

   pink for the 2nd virginity: of the bride as she first goes to the bed of her husband

       violet for the 3rd virginity: of the chaste widow, grieving yet joyful

♡

Yesterday, I was at Publix and thought that I would like fresh flowers, preferably "the violet of widows" as the saint* had said. Well, as usual, Publix wanted me to buy not one, but three.  Then I saw that in addition to the violet bunch I wanted, there were also the very same pink blooms that I carried in my bridal bouquet!

Seeing my bridal flowers reminded me of something wise that my mother said after my vows.  I had lived with my love for three years before God let me marry him. And he only became fit through the intercession of our Mother, Mary Untier of Knots. Knowing that I wasn't a virgin physically, she deliberately pulled me aside and said, "Remember that tonight as you go to your husband, you are again a virgin for you have never made love before with your spouse." At times, my mother spoke from the Holy Spirit.

So, I thought again of my current station of life and saw that the good Lord grants me yet a third virginity by my widowhood.  I am again chaste and pure, ready to meet Him now, or when He comes in His glory.

I bought 3 sprays, one for each virginity. Then I set aside two sets of each flower as gifts to two other widows in His name.  Thank You, Lord, for your many kindnesses!

* That garden of the Lord’s brothers and sisters includes, yes it includes, it certainly includes not only the roses of martyrs but also the lilies of virgins, and the ivy of married people and the violet of widows. There is absolutely no kind of human beings, dearly beloved, who need to despair of their vocation.

-Augustine, Ancient Christian Commentary, p 219

Eat This Scroll

Today's 1st reading is from the book of Ezekiel ~  

He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.

☆

I just love Ezekiel! He is a prophet with the talent of painting pictures, which as a visual learner I find extremely helpful.

Image from Divine Child in the Detroit suburbs

I believe that the prophet Ezekiel may be the first to physically "eat the Word of God" in the Hebrew scriptures. In so doing, he incorporates the scroll of God into his very being and so is able to to spill it forth to those to whom he is sent.

In the book of Deuteronomy 8:3 it says:

He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna,c a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone* that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.

Jesus alludes to this verse at his Temptation (see Matthew 4:4)

Often, God's gifts through Our Lord Jesus are prefigured in the Hebrew Scripture. 

Before Vatican II, our biblical scholars would study these as "types" echoed in Scripture. The old Catholic Encyclopedia from 1912 has a wonderful exposition on this fruitful means of tying together the Old and the New Covenants for those interested; there are also more moden studies which incorporate Dei Verbum and later teachings.

ADVICE ON MURMURRING

The topic of murmuring came up again this week.  I wrote a rant about it before,

( 2017 post here )  but it is a sin that comes very easily to my own lips.

Grumbling causes great harm to communites, and was a particular concern to St. Benedict. My copy of the Rule had a full appendix on the subject. 

Advice on avoiding grumbling from

https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/faith-and-character/faith-and-character/do-not-grumble-no-murmuring-and-no-complaining.html 

Give thanks to the Lord for His many blessings He has showered down on you, 

is in the moment giving to you, and will give you in the future. Think about all that 

you truly can be thankful for, and switch from thoughts of aggravation to thoughts 

of appreciation.  St. Paul gives us a tip here, as well: 

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 

whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 

whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, 

if there is anything worthy of praise, 

think about these things." (Phil 4:8)

BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM

 

Matthew 7:15+

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1832 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. the tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

¹¹²

SO...ask yourself when others speak to you, especially when they give you advice or counsel,

"Does this person live in the Holy Spirit?"

Anyone who strives to follow the Word of God receives GIFTS from the Holy Spirit that, when exercised, manifest to others as these FRUITS.

1. Are you always seeking fault, or loving?
2. Are you depressed, or joyful?
3. Are you aggressive, or peaceful?
4. Are you abrupt, or patient?
5. Are you cruel, or kind?
6. Do you do evil, or good?
7. Are you greedy, or generous?
8. Do you ride roughshod, or act with gentleness?
9. Are you two-faced, or faithful?
10. Do you strive to be sexy in dress and manner, or are you modest?
11. Do you yield to every impulse, or mindfully practice self-control?
12. Do you flaunt or misuse your body, or act chastely?

Each of us should always strive to use our gifts wisely.  When we do, our very being will become a light to others.

On reviving the Order of Widows

Reviving the Order of Widows
We don't need any 'permissions' from Mama Church:  She BE one
Widowhood is a STATION OF LIFE
God chooses our members

Three Virginities of Mary, Icon of the Church

virgin child who grows to be 

a young woman bursting with fertility,

who goes to her spouse as a virgin

   each of us begins as the Immaculate Conception:  that is how God saw us when we were conceived in His mind and realized through the creative power of the Father

who wholly embraces the Shema... 

and conceives the Word of God Himself

and goes to her spouse after the birth as a virgin again

each of blessed through holy matrimony that is fruitful has a first time that we laid with our beloved husbands as the mother of his child...  This also is a virginity, a newness in our relationship that changes everything.

who grieves at the sight...

of her dead God

and her dead husband

But rejoices as both still live!

When Almighy God elevates us to the Order of Widows, we are again virgin.  Like Virgin, or Mother, a Widow is a station of life.  

Catholic canon law prohibits that anyone be forced to change one's station of life. The difference is that this station is one that we may not have chosen. 

RAHAB: A Whore No More

The Office of Readings for June 14, 2018 includes a homily by Origen, a great theologian who I greatly admire.  But... I take issue with some of what he says.  Here is the excerpt that all of us read this morning:

______________________________________________________________________________________
(the following text copied from the Pro Terra Sanctum ibreviary)
From a homily on Joshua by Origen, priest
(Hom. 6, 4: PG 12, 855-856)

The capture of Jericho

Once Jericho was surrounded it had to be stormed. How then was Jericho stormed? No sword was drawn against it, no battering ram was aimed at it, no javelins were hurled. The priests merely sounded their trumpets, and the walls of Jericho collapsed. 

In the Scriptures Jericho is often represented as an image of the world. There can be no doubt that the man whom the Gospel describes as going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and falling into the hands of brigands is an image of Adam being driven out of paradise into the exile of this world. Likewise the blind men in Jericho, to whom Jesus came to give sight, signified the people in this world who were blinded by ignorance, to whom the son of God came.

Jericho will fall, then; this world will perish. Indeed in the sacred books the end of the world was proclaimed long ago. How will the world be brought to an end, and by what means will it be destroyed? The answer of Scripture is: By the sound of trumpets. If you ask what trumpets, then let Paul reveal the secret. Listen to what he says: The trumpet will sound, and the dead who are in Christ will rise incorruptible. The voice of the archangel and the trumpets of God will give the signal, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Then the Lord Jesus will conquer Jericho with trumpets and destroy it, saving only the harlot and her household. 

Jesus our Lord will come says Paul, and he will come with the sound of trumpets. He will save only the woman who received his spies, that is, his apostles, in faith and obedience, and hid them on the roof of her house; and he will join this harlot to the house of Israel. But let us not bring up her past sins again or impute them to her. She was a harlot once, but now she is joined to Christ, chaste virgin to one chaste husband. Listen to what the Apostle says of her: He has determined to present you to Christ as a chaste virgin to her one and only husband. Indeed, Paul himself had been born of her: Misled by our folly and disbelief, he said, we too were once slaves to our passions and to pleasures of every kind. 

If you wish to learn more fully about how this harlot ceased to be a harlot then listen to Paul once again: And such were you also, but you have been cleansed and made holy in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. To assure her escape when Jericho was destroyed, the harlot was given that most effective symbol of salvation, the scarlet cord. For it is by the blood of Christ that the entire Church is saved, in the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom belongs glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

"How then was Jericho stormed?"  Origen asks.  His answer is good, but he does not go far enough.

Jericho is indeed the image of the world, as he states..  But he misses the point, I think. It's not the silly trumpets that bring down the walls!  Yes, they blow the ram's horns as they circle the city once for six days and seven times on the seventh day, and the wall does fall at the end of this 7th circuit when the people shout.... BUT, that's not the truth told in this episode from the book of Joshua.  It's not the point of the story, and it's not a full truth.

A better answer is that the walls of Jericho fell because the Israelites obeyed the WORD OF GOD through their leader Joshua.  The Lord told Joshua what to do, he conveyed His instructions to the people.  The whole Israelite community obeyed Joshua's commands in every particular.  

"Jericho will fall, then; this world will perish."   Yes, Jericho will fall, but by 'Jericho' we refer to its peoples, not to the physical land.  Those inhabitants of Jericho who did not accept God's Word -  those who rejected Him and worshipped idols instead - ceased to exist to enjoy God's bounteous gift. They were dispossessed of that fine city. Only those who have accepted the One Holy Almighty One will be preserved on that day.  

Rahab may have been a literal harlot; however, others see her as an innkeeper.  But what I think cannot be disputed is that she also is a figure for all enslaved by original sin, the crime of not giving the only true God His due.  But Rahab receives God's messengers, she shelters and helps Joshua's spies that are sent to her, and she is 'whore' no more but accepts God's Word that she receives from His messengers and aids them in their work.  The world is indeed destroyed, but we're not talking about a physical land disappearing but an emptying and conquering of sin (inhabitants) to make way for the new Creation transformed by the glory of God in the Holy Spirit through the Presence of the Risen Christ, Emmanuel.  This transformation already has begun, as through baptism each Christian carries the seeds of His Kingdom in this physical universe.  We bring all peoples to Christ through our daily lives; it is we who reconcile  Rahab and join her as one of the People of God.

In further support of what I say, let us also remember the other meaning for "Rahab"

 4 [11] Rahab: a mythological sea monster whose name is used in the Bible mainly as a personification of primeval chaos. Cf ⇒ Job 9:13; ⇒ 26:12; ⇒Psalm 74:13-14; ⇒ Isaiah 51:9.

(see NAB footnote 4 for Psalm 89:11 above).  So we see that these spies of Jericho bring the Light of Christ, the Word of God, to those enslaved by ignorance.  Rahab the harlot hears rumors of the Israelites and is filled with the holy fear of the power of their God.  Her heart was opened by the Holy Spirit, for it is that Person who brings the gift of awe!  And when 

I have a very wise mother. 





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today (June 14th)  is also the Carmelite Feast of Elisha the prophet, successor to Elijah and so his "eldest son" in THE LORD who so received a double inheritance...

The Luminous Mysteries

Penance Rosary continues...

1st Luminous Mystery  

Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 
Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. (Mt 3,13-17)

O Father, as we contemplate John's Baptism of Repentance of Your Beloved Son Jesus, human yet eternally sinless, we beg Your help and grace to recognize and amend our own sinful ways. Help us to see where our service to You can be better.  Help us to hear Your voice so that we may do Your will for us rather than follow our own whims.  Help us to touch the hearts and minds of those You send into our lives.  For the sake of Our Lord Jesus, whom You acclaimed from heaven, sending the Spirit to fortify Him to reconcile all creation to You, we beg your aid.   Amen.

Our Father...

For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:21
Hail Mary . . .

He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in . . . Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” Lk 3:3
Hail Mary . . .

And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Lk 3:10-11
Hail Mary . . .

Jesus also had been baptized . . . heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Lk 3:21-22
Hail Mary . . .

Here is my servant whom I uphold, / my chosen one with whom I am pleased, / Upon whom I have put my spirit. Is 42:1
Hail Mary . . .

A bruised reed he shall not break, / and a smoldering wick he shall not quench. Is 42:3
Hail Mary . . .

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice. Is 42:6
Hail Mary . . .

I formed you, and set you / as a covenant of the people, / a light for the nations. Is 42:6
Hail Mary . . .

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, / because he has anointed me / to bring glad tidings to the poor.” Lk 4:18
Hail Mary . . .

“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives / and recovery of sight to the blind, / to let the oppressed go free, / and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Lk 4:18-19
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .

Porta Sancta - Baptism of Christ

When Abram first comes to Canaan from Ur with his nephew Lot, the latter eventually settles east of the Jordan while God promises Abram the land near Hebron to the west.  When Moses leads his descendants from bondage in Egypt, crossing the Jordan marks their entry to this Promised Land.

This pericope has been a frequent icon for my own reflections. I bought three Porta Sancta medals when I brought my children to Rome for the Jubilee in 2000. I wore the medal shown to the left until the metal coating wore away.

River Jordan empties into a salt lake where nothing can thrive.  I always found it rather fitting that John chooses to send sins downriver to a place that leads to death since that is where we float also should we choose to retain our sins.  John of Patmos speaks two generations later of the faithful who washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb, an interesting and insightful word picture for a baptism of Living Water that is immersion and participation in the Passion of the Christ.  Bathe in the Precious Blood:  a permanent stain that cleans you to resemble the Resurrected Lord.  Awesomeness.

• 2nd Luminous Mystery 
• The Wedding at Cana

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to Him, "They have no more wine." 
"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." 

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 
This, the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him. (Jn 2,1-12)

Almighty God, as we contemplate the mystery of the Miracle at Cana, we ask that You might help us to be patient with ourselves and with our brethren.  Help us to recognize when our own time has come to do Your bidding, and when we need to grow spiritually yet before we are fit for Your service.  Open our minds and hearts to the vocations of others, that we might be an aid to them and not a stumbling block.  With You, Lord, all things are possible:  even turning wash water into the choicest wine.  We beg your mercy through the merits of Your only Son, who heard the voice of His mother and came to her aid in obedience to the Father's command to honor her.  Amen.

Our Father . . .

When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." Jn 2:3
Hail Mary . . .

Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." Jn 2:4
Hail Mary . . .

His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Jn 2:5
Hail Mary . . .

Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. 
Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." Jn 2:7-8
Hail Mary . . .

The headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, 
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jn 2:9-10
Hail Mary . . .

If I . . . have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, 
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
Jn 13:14-15
Hail Mary . . .

To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, 
pray for those who mistreat you. Lk 6:27-28
Hail Mary . . .

Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. 
Forgive and you will be forgiven. Lk 6:37
Hail Mary . . .

Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and 
take up his cross daily and follow me." Lk 9:23
Hail Mary . . .

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. Jn 15:12
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .

John shares the story of the Wedding at Cana immediately after John the Baptizer bears witness to Jesus, resulting in Andrew and John the son of Zebedee leaving all behind to follow Him; from these two were called Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael for a total of five (numerological symbol for the salvation of humankind).  These men, and possibly others, accompanied Jesus and his mother at the wedding.  Philip is a favorite of mine, his constant companion is called Bartholomew in the synoptics and Nathanael in the gospel of John.  My older boy, Stephen Joseph, chose Bartholomew as his confirmation name; his best friend in high school was Steven Joseph Nathanael... I referred to them jokingly as 'Stephen Squared'...

The conversation with Mary his mother seems carefully constructed to me.  When she says that there is no wine for the wedding guests, Jesus calls her 'woman' and basically dismisses her statement as a mere human concern.  But the Blessed Mother speaks then as she does even to the present day:  she is the voice of her spouse, the Holy Spirit.  When she contradicts Jesus and orders the servants to obey Him, He hears the voice of His Father through her and knows that, despite His hesitance, the time has indeed come to reveal directly what John has attested.  [please tell the NAB editors that they should fix their footnotes in their next edition, lol...]

3rd Luminous Mystery:  

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. 

Repent and believe the good news!" (Mk 1,15)

Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God, 

calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) 

and forgives the sins of all who draw near to Him 

in humble trust (cf. Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47- 48) 

The inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he has entrusted to His Church (cf. Jn 20:22-23).

Almighty and Eternal Father, through our baptism we share in the life of the Trinity under Jesus' cloak.  As we contemplate the mystery of the preaching and healing ministry of the Emmanuel who pitched His tent among us, help us always to be cognizant that our thoughts, words, and deeds should reflect 

Our Father.....

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. Mk 1:14
Hail Mary . . .

This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Mk 1:15
Hail Mary . . .

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, / because he has anointed me / to bring glad tidings to the poor. Lk 4:18
Hail Mary . . .

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives / and recovery of sight to the blind, / to let the oppressed go free, / and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Lk 4:18-19
Hail Mary . . .

Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. Lk 4:21
Hail Mary . . .

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you . . . when someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. Mt 5:38-39
Hail Mary . . .

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." 

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Mt 5:43-44
Hail Mary . . .

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . 

But store up treasures in heaven . . . 

for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Mt 6:19-21
Hail Mary . . .

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. Mt 7:12
Hail Mary . . .

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Mt 10:8
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .

Mark's Gospel recounts the first day of Jesus' public ministry (Mark 1:14-31), which consists of teaching, exorcism (freeing from mortal sin), healing, and prayer.  Matthew has Jesus tempted in the desert, then calling disciples before beginning to preach when John is arrested.  In Luke's telling, Jesus is tempted; then that he reads the Isaiah scroll in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-21)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners; To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn; To place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes, To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit. They will be called oaks of justice, planted by the LORD to show his glory.... (Isaiah 61:1-3)

• 4th Luminous Mystery  
• The Transfiguration of the Lord

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.

They spoke about His departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and His companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to Him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him." 

When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. 

The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.(Luk 9,28-35)

Almighty and Eternal Father, 

Our Father.....

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Mt 17:1-2
Hail Mary . . .

Two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Lk 9:30-31
Hail Mary . . .

Peter and his companions . . . saw his glory and the two men standing with him. Lk 9:32
Hail Mary . . .

Peter said . . . "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents. . . ." But he did not know what he was saying. Lk 9:33
Hail Mary . . .

A voice [said], "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Mt 17:5
Hail Mary . . .

But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. Mt 17:7-8
Hail Mary . . .

Through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jn 1:4-5
Hail Mary . . .

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him. Jn 1:18
Hail Mary . . .

All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18
Hail Mary . . .

You are the light of the world . . . your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Mt 5:14, 16
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .

• Institution of the Eucharist
• 5th Luminous Mystery

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." (Mk 14,22-25)

Almighty and Eternal Father, 

Our Father.....

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. Jn 13:1
Hail Mary . . .

My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. Mt 26:18
Hail Mary . . .

I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.
Lk 22:15-16
Hail Mary . . .

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me."
Lk 22:19
Hail Mary . . .

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." Lk 22:20
Hail Mary . . .

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
1 Cor 11:26
Hail Mary . . .

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one . . . that the world may believe that you sent me. Jn 17:20-21
Hail Mary . . .

Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. 1 Cor 12:27
Hail Mary . . .

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. 1 Cor 12:13
Hail Mary . . .

If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. 1 Cor 12:26
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .