Showing posts with label Fr. James's Sunday Homily. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fr. James's Sunday Homily. Show all posts
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fr. James's audio Sunday homily
Here is Fr. James's audio clip of the Sunday Homily. Click here to listen.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
Perhaps Jesus was tired, maybe even disturbed after his confrontation with the Pharisees, so he sat down to rest, reflect, or simply just to get away from a tense situation. As he was sitting down he watched the people putting money into the treasury of the Temple. This Sunday’s Gospel narrative teaches us a beautiful lesson about generosity. “A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents” (Mark 12: 42)
Generosity is a beautiful virtue. Not only are we to be generous with our financial resources, but we need to be generous in everything that we do.
Not too long ago my parents were telling me about a dear friend of theirs that passed away. The wake and the funeral were packed with people from all over the city. For many years their friend used to help out the elderly homebound people of his neighborhood by cutting their lawns, shoveling their snow and doing their food shopping at no cost to the people that he was helping.
Locally, here in Corpus Christi, many stories are told about how the Fuedo brothers used to help the poor. For many years Ron and Joe ran a few very successful grocery stores. They were always helping people who could not afford to buy the necessary groceries that they needed for their homes.
People still remember how the telephone would ring just as Ron was finally able to sit down with his wife and children for Thanksgiving dinner after so many long hours dedicated to the grocery store. Without a complaint, he would excuse himself from the table, answer the call and then inform his wife that he would return shortly. The call was from a person who did not have food for their Thanksgiving Day meal.
Ron would drive down to his grocery store which was located close to his home, open the door and go into the backroom with large paper bags which he generously filled with enough food for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner... (Continued here)
Generosity is a beautiful virtue. Not only are we to be generous with our financial resources, but we need to be generous in everything that we do.
Not too long ago my parents were telling me about a dear friend of theirs that passed away. The wake and the funeral were packed with people from all over the city. For many years their friend used to help out the elderly homebound people of his neighborhood by cutting their lawns, shoveling their snow and doing their food shopping at no cost to the people that he was helping.
Locally, here in Corpus Christi, many stories are told about how the Fuedo brothers used to help the poor. For many years Ron and Joe ran a few very successful grocery stores. They were always helping people who could not afford to buy the necessary groceries that they needed for their homes.
People still remember how the telephone would ring just as Ron was finally able to sit down with his wife and children for Thanksgiving dinner after so many long hours dedicated to the grocery store. Without a complaint, he would excuse himself from the table, answer the call and then inform his wife that he would return shortly. The call was from a person who did not have food for their Thanksgiving Day meal.
Ron would drive down to his grocery store which was located close to his home, open the door and go into the backroom with large paper bags which he generously filled with enough food for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner... (Continued here)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
"This Sunday’s passage from the Gospel helps us to understand stewardship. We are all given a part of the vineyard to cultivate. God gives us a part of the vineyard because he trusts us. God gives us a vocation and a mission. He gives us gifts that enable us to complete our purpose in this life and reach eternal life. Our journey takes place within the mysterious gift of freedom that God bestows upon every human person. We are called to love him freely. This means that we can also reject God.
As living members of the Church, we are each responsible for the part of the vineyard that has been entrusted to us. In the parable, we find that the vineyard has come equipped with everything that is necessary: the hedge, the wine press, and the tower. These elements make the work of the cultivators easy to accomplish. Thus God not only has entrusted us with a mission, he has also given us the means to fulfill the mission. The sacraments provide us with all of the graces that we need to fulfill the duties that correspond to our state in life. Our personal gifts and talents enable us to carry out and develop our particular daily tasks.
Most of people who worship on Sunday at their parish church are married and have children. The parish is a family comprised of many families. The parish must be at the service of the family. Especially today, when there are so many difficulties and dangers for family life, most particularly today, parishes must do all that they can to help families be family..." (Continued here)
As living members of the Church, we are each responsible for the part of the vineyard that has been entrusted to us. In the parable, we find that the vineyard has come equipped with everything that is necessary: the hedge, the wine press, and the tower. These elements make the work of the cultivators easy to accomplish. Thus God not only has entrusted us with a mission, he has also given us the means to fulfill the mission. The sacraments provide us with all of the graces that we need to fulfill the duties that correspond to our state in life. Our personal gifts and talents enable us to carry out and develop our particular daily tasks.
Most of people who worship on Sunday at their parish church are married and have children. The parish is a family comprised of many families. The parish must be at the service of the family. Especially today, when there are so many difficulties and dangers for family life, most particularly today, parishes must do all that they can to help families be family..." (Continued here)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
This Sunday, our attention is being directed toward an understanding of the reality of sin. Let us recall the words of this Sunday's responsorial psalm: "Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your love are from of old. The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord".
What is sin? The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us a concise definition. "Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law" (CCC #1849).
Scripture tells us that actual sin is divided into two classifications: mortal sin and venial sin.
"There is a sin that leads to death…"
(1John 5:16).
"Every kind of wickedness is sin, but not all sin leads to death" (1John 5:17).
Mortal sin is forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance. All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession…" (CCC #1456).
Just like all the other sacraments of the Church, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confession. The Church has always understood the Scriptural reference for the Sacrament of Confession to be John 20: 22-23: "Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained".
What an immense gift we have been given! The Sacrament of Confession is an enormous source of interior peace. The priest raises his hand, and then with a blessing pronounces those amazing words: I absolve you from your sins. At that moment, we know that God has heard our cry for forgiveness, and we have been pardoned of our sins. "God, who is rich in mercy…" (Ephesians 2: 4).
For me, the Sacrament of Reconciliation has been, along with the Eucharist, my greatest source of strength and peace during my journey with the Lord Jesus. As a parish priest, my greatest joys are celebrating the Eucharist for my people and hearing confessions. I am overjoyed when people go to confession on a regular basis, and one of my heaviest crosses as a priest has been the rejection of confession by many people. If they only knew what would give them such peace and happiness.
A few years ago a priest friend of mine from another diocese told me that his bishop recently made an ad limina visit to the Holy Father. Bishops meet with the Pope every five years in order to give him a report on their respective dioceses.
The bishop was very honest with the Holy Father. He told him that his biggest concern is the fact that his priests, religious and laity are not going to confession.
The greatest sin for many people is the denial of sin. How sad this is, and how dangerous this is for the acquisition of eternal life. Despite the constant and clear teaching of the Catholic Church, many people reject the truth.
Once again, let us return to this Sunday's responsorial psalm: "Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way".
Continual spiritual progress is essential. The habitual practice of the sacrament of confession must not be just a practice that takes place before Christmas and Easter. This is a huge mistake. Monthly confession, or whenever necessary, is a fundamental tool to maintain and persevere in the life of grace. Spiritual laziness is very dangerous for any soul.
What is sin? The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us a concise definition. "Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law" (CCC #1849).
Scripture tells us that actual sin is divided into two classifications: mortal sin and venial sin.
"There is a sin that leads to death…"
(1John 5:16).
"Every kind of wickedness is sin, but not all sin leads to death" (1John 5:17).
Mortal sin is forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance. All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession…" (CCC #1456).
Just like all the other sacraments of the Church, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confession. The Church has always understood the Scriptural reference for the Sacrament of Confession to be John 20: 22-23: "Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained".
What an immense gift we have been given! The Sacrament of Confession is an enormous source of interior peace. The priest raises his hand, and then with a blessing pronounces those amazing words: I absolve you from your sins. At that moment, we know that God has heard our cry for forgiveness, and we have been pardoned of our sins. "God, who is rich in mercy…" (Ephesians 2: 4).
For me, the Sacrament of Reconciliation has been, along with the Eucharist, my greatest source of strength and peace during my journey with the Lord Jesus. As a parish priest, my greatest joys are celebrating the Eucharist for my people and hearing confessions. I am overjoyed when people go to confession on a regular basis, and one of my heaviest crosses as a priest has been the rejection of confession by many people. If they only knew what would give them such peace and happiness.
A few years ago a priest friend of mine from another diocese told me that his bishop recently made an ad limina visit to the Holy Father. Bishops meet with the Pope every five years in order to give him a report on their respective dioceses.
The bishop was very honest with the Holy Father. He told him that his biggest concern is the fact that his priests, religious and laity are not going to confession.
The greatest sin for many people is the denial of sin. How sad this is, and how dangerous this is for the acquisition of eternal life. Despite the constant and clear teaching of the Catholic Church, many people reject the truth.
Once again, let us return to this Sunday's responsorial psalm: "Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way".
Continual spiritual progress is essential. The habitual practice of the sacrament of confession must not be just a practice that takes place before Christmas and Easter. This is a huge mistake. Monthly confession, or whenever necessary, is a fundamental tool to maintain and persevere in the life of grace. Spiritual laziness is very dangerous for any soul.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Fr. James' s Homily: Fourth of July week end
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" (The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776). We have heard and read these famous words many times. Yet, it should be interesting for us to note that of the three fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the founding fathers of our nation recognize life as the first of these three unalienable rights.
Why is the right to life the first of these God given rights?
Life is a gift from God. The first pages of the Holy Bible direct our gaze to the awesome gift of life. "And now, from the clay of the ground, the Lord God formed man, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and made man a living person" (Genesis 2: 7). Life is entrusted to man as a gift. Thus, man has a responsibility to this gift.
In his encyclical letter "The Gospel of Life", Pope John Paul II reminds us that this responsibility is carried out in three ways: love life, respect life, and promote life... (CONTINUED HERE)
Why is the right to life the first of these God given rights?
Life is a gift from God. The first pages of the Holy Bible direct our gaze to the awesome gift of life. "And now, from the clay of the ground, the Lord God formed man, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and made man a living person" (Genesis 2: 7). Life is entrusted to man as a gift. Thus, man has a responsibility to this gift.
In his encyclical letter "The Gospel of Life", Pope John Paul II reminds us that this responsibility is carried out in three ways: love life, respect life, and promote life... (CONTINUED HERE)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily: Father's Day
Father’s Day: The mystery of the sacrament of marriage
Our Lady of Gudalupe Electronic Parish has many readers from around the world. For all those in different parts of the world who do not celebrate Father's Day, there is a homily on this Sunday's Gospel at the conclusion of the Father's Day homily.
George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut once said that when he was young he asked God to tell him about the mystery of the universe. But God answered him and said that such knowledge is reserved for God alone. So the famous scientist asked God to tell him about the mystery of the peanut. God said that knowledge about the peanut was something that he could handle and God told him all about it."
A few weeks ago when we celebrated the Feast of the Blessed Trinity, we considered the mystery of God. God is mysterious. God has revealed himself as One Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
During our consideration we said that we can look upon God as a communion of persons. We can see the image of God stamped into all of existence. Human nature, marriage, the family, human society and the Church are all icons of the Triune God who is a communion of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This Sunday we celebrate Father's Day. Let us take this opportunity to consider fatherhood and the sacrament of holy matrimony.
When Adam was created by God he was alone. God then created the animal kingdom, but as we read in Genesis, "none proved to be the suitable partner for the man" (Genesis 2: 20). Adam felt incomplete until the creation of Eve. However, with the creation of Eve, Adam now feels complete or fulfilled. But, this fulfillment is rooted in the fact that the nature of man is made complete because a communion has been formed. Man is now male and female.
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken" (Genesis 2: 23).
So, man is a communion because man has been created as male and female. Pope John Paul II affirmed that "man becomes an image of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion". Man becomes image of God because he is a communion. He reflects the communion of God and participates intimately in the communion of God through sanctifying grace.
Marriage is defined as an "intimate community of life and love". The intimate life of married spouses is an image of the interior life of the Blessed Trinity. "Authentic married love is caught up into divine love…". Moreover, the sacrament of Matrimony can be considered as the prototype of all of the sacraments "because all of the sacraments draw their essential significance and their sacramental power from the spousal love of Christ the Redeemer".
If we were to make a synthesis of the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the definition of marriage, we will understand that marriage is the intimate communion of life and love between a man and woman, joined together by God.
The purposes of marriage, as defined by the Catholic Church, are the good of the spouses, the procreation of children, and the education of children. This communion of life and love has been established by Our Lord as one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. This intimate communion of life and love is exclusive, indissoluble, faithful and open to the procreation of children... (Continued here)
Our Lady of Gudalupe Electronic Parish has many readers from around the world. For all those in different parts of the world who do not celebrate Father's Day, there is a homily on this Sunday's Gospel at the conclusion of the Father's Day homily.
George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut once said that when he was young he asked God to tell him about the mystery of the universe. But God answered him and said that such knowledge is reserved for God alone. So the famous scientist asked God to tell him about the mystery of the peanut. God said that knowledge about the peanut was something that he could handle and God told him all about it."
A few weeks ago when we celebrated the Feast of the Blessed Trinity, we considered the mystery of God. God is mysterious. God has revealed himself as One Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
During our consideration we said that we can look upon God as a communion of persons. We can see the image of God stamped into all of existence. Human nature, marriage, the family, human society and the Church are all icons of the Triune God who is a communion of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This Sunday we celebrate Father's Day. Let us take this opportunity to consider fatherhood and the sacrament of holy matrimony.
When Adam was created by God he was alone. God then created the animal kingdom, but as we read in Genesis, "none proved to be the suitable partner for the man" (Genesis 2: 20). Adam felt incomplete until the creation of Eve. However, with the creation of Eve, Adam now feels complete or fulfilled. But, this fulfillment is rooted in the fact that the nature of man is made complete because a communion has been formed. Man is now male and female.
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken" (Genesis 2: 23).
So, man is a communion because man has been created as male and female. Pope John Paul II affirmed that "man becomes an image of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion". Man becomes image of God because he is a communion. He reflects the communion of God and participates intimately in the communion of God through sanctifying grace.
Marriage is defined as an "intimate community of life and love". The intimate life of married spouses is an image of the interior life of the Blessed Trinity. "Authentic married love is caught up into divine love…". Moreover, the sacrament of Matrimony can be considered as the prototype of all of the sacraments "because all of the sacraments draw their essential significance and their sacramental power from the spousal love of Christ the Redeemer".
If we were to make a synthesis of the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the definition of marriage, we will understand that marriage is the intimate communion of life and love between a man and woman, joined together by God.
The purposes of marriage, as defined by the Catholic Church, are the good of the spouses, the procreation of children, and the education of children. This communion of life and love has been established by Our Lord as one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. This intimate communion of life and love is exclusive, indissoluble, faithful and open to the procreation of children... (Continued here)
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
Follow me
Matthew was among the most hated by the Jewish people. He was a Jew who collected taxes for the Romans. Not only was he considered a traitor; the Jews hated him because they believed him corrupt as well. Moreover, it was common practice for the tax collectors to commit all types of injustices against their own people as they lined their own pockets and curried favor with the Roman officials. No respectable Jew would have anything to do with Matthew.
Jesus was different. Jesus had not come to call the righteous; he came for sinners. Jesus knew that every saint has a past, and that every sinner has a future. Jesus came to Matthew and met him where he was: corrupt, sinful, and in need of redemption.
"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, 'Follow me'. And he got up and followed him" (Matthew 9: 9).
What did Jesus want from Matthew? "Follow me." This is what Jesus wanted from Matthew. He did not tell Matthew to do anything else. He did not tell him to get his life in order and then to follow him. He simply said, "Follow me." Jesus singled out Matthew, and he poured out his unconditional love upon Matthew. Jesus showed Matthew how much he loved him; and what Jesus wanted from Matthew was his love. 'Follow me'.
Jesus enters our life too. He comes to us just the way we are, and he calls us to a new and better life. He shows us his unconditional love, and he invites us to love him in return. This is what Christianity is all about: Jesus loves me, and I love Jesus. It's that simple.
Every one of our daily acts must be an act of loving Jesus. We do the simple, small, ordinary things with extraordinary love. Getting up on time in the morning for love of Jesus. Going to work in the morning for love of Jesus. Being of good cheer for love of Jesus. Obeying our parents for love of Jesus. Being kind to one another for love of Jesus. Carrying out our daily responsibilities for love Jesus. This is how we show that we are true disciples of Jesus.
My dear friends, here is the antidote for any kind of boredom: to do everything that we do with a supernatural intention. Do everything as a way of showing our love for Jesus. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He wants us to love him unconditionally.
I know that all of this sounds beautiful and very simple. However, it is true that this kind of love is not always easy. We do not always love correctly, and we do not always love the way we should. When we do not love correctly, when we do not love the way that we should, this is called sin.
"What's wrong with the world?" a newspaper editorial once asked many years ago. G.K. Chesterton, the famous Catholic convert from England, wrote in reply, "I am." We are all sinners. We are all in need of redemption. We do not always love correctly. We do not love the way that we should.
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do" (Matthew 9: 12).
Our struggle is not only with the things that we do, but also with the things that we do not do. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. Sins of omission are those acts of love that have been left undone..." (Continued here)
Matthew was among the most hated by the Jewish people. He was a Jew who collected taxes for the Romans. Not only was he considered a traitor; the Jews hated him because they believed him corrupt as well. Moreover, it was common practice for the tax collectors to commit all types of injustices against their own people as they lined their own pockets and curried favor with the Roman officials. No respectable Jew would have anything to do with Matthew.
Jesus was different. Jesus had not come to call the righteous; he came for sinners. Jesus knew that every saint has a past, and that every sinner has a future. Jesus came to Matthew and met him where he was: corrupt, sinful, and in need of redemption.
"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, 'Follow me'. And he got up and followed him" (Matthew 9: 9).
What did Jesus want from Matthew? "Follow me." This is what Jesus wanted from Matthew. He did not tell Matthew to do anything else. He did not tell him to get his life in order and then to follow him. He simply said, "Follow me." Jesus singled out Matthew, and he poured out his unconditional love upon Matthew. Jesus showed Matthew how much he loved him; and what Jesus wanted from Matthew was his love. 'Follow me'.
Jesus enters our life too. He comes to us just the way we are, and he calls us to a new and better life. He shows us his unconditional love, and he invites us to love him in return. This is what Christianity is all about: Jesus loves me, and I love Jesus. It's that simple.
Every one of our daily acts must be an act of loving Jesus. We do the simple, small, ordinary things with extraordinary love. Getting up on time in the morning for love of Jesus. Going to work in the morning for love of Jesus. Being of good cheer for love of Jesus. Obeying our parents for love of Jesus. Being kind to one another for love of Jesus. Carrying out our daily responsibilities for love Jesus. This is how we show that we are true disciples of Jesus.
My dear friends, here is the antidote for any kind of boredom: to do everything that we do with a supernatural intention. Do everything as a way of showing our love for Jesus. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He wants us to love him unconditionally.
I know that all of this sounds beautiful and very simple. However, it is true that this kind of love is not always easy. We do not always love correctly, and we do not always love the way we should. When we do not love correctly, when we do not love the way that we should, this is called sin.
"What's wrong with the world?" a newspaper editorial once asked many years ago. G.K. Chesterton, the famous Catholic convert from England, wrote in reply, "I am." We are all sinners. We are all in need of redemption. We do not always love correctly. We do not love the way that we should.
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do" (Matthew 9: 12).
Our struggle is not only with the things that we do, but also with the things that we do not do. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. Sins of omission are those acts of love that have been left undone..." (Continued here)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Fr. James's Homily: The Feast of Corpus Christi
Most of the time, we need constant reminders of the immense gifts that God continually bestows upon us. The Eucharist is an immense miracle, but sometimes we need to be reminded just how amazing this miracle really
One such reminder took place in 1263. A German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He is described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe in Transubstantiation. While celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Christina, located in Bolsena, Italy, he had barely spoken the words of Consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal.
The priest was immediately confused. At first he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, the city where Pope Urban IV was then residing.
The Pope listened to the priest's story and gave him absolution for his lack of faith. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood. With archbishops, cardinals and other Church dignitaries in attendance, the Pope met the procession and, amid great pomp, had the relics placed in the cathedral. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto, Italy.
Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the liturgical prayers in honor of the Eucharist. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint's compositions, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.
The Feast of Corpus Christi reminds us that we possess an immense treasure. When a Catholic priest takes a little piece of unleavened bread and repeats the words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, "This is my body", and when he takes a small of amount of wine in a chalice and says, "This is my blood", the bread is no longer bread and the wine is no longer wine. At every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we participate in a marvelous miracle, the miracle called Transubstantiation.
Last week we reflected upon the mystery of communion. Our Triune God is a communion of persons. We can see the image of this communion stamped into all of existence. Human nature, marriage, the family, human society and the Church are all icons of the Triune God who is a communion of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Eucharist is called Holy Communion. Jesus himself, through the Eucharist, grants to us the most powerful experience of intimacy possible within our earthly existence. As Pope Benedict explains: “And that is what is really happening in Communion, that we allow ourselves to be drawn into him, into his inner communion, and are thus led finally into a state of inner resemblance”.[i]
What intimacy! When Jesus comes to us, he comes to us as communion. God and man become one. He comes to us as the divine lover. His communion with us is more intimate than the intimate union of husband and wife or a mother with her unborn child.
We cannot even begin to fathom the depth of God’s love for us. His love is so immense that he himself is defined as love. “God is love” (1 John 4: 8, 16). The Holy Eucharist is the most visible sign of God’s love for each of us. Jesus loves us so much that he cannot leave us. “And know that I am with you always until the end of time” (Matthew 28: 20).
Let us recall then the words from the first encyclical letter written by Pope John Paul II, “Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it”.[ii]
As we consider the mystery of God’s unconditional love we are reminded that love defines the very purpose of our existence too. The purpose of our life can be summed up with only one word: love. “…since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another” (1 John 4: 11).
The human person cannot live without the experience of divine love and human love. The human person cannot live without the experience of divine intimacy and human intimacy. The human person cannot live without communion. Man becomes fully realized in communion because he is created for communion by a God who is the most perfect communion.
This is why Pope Benedict calls the Church a “Eucharistic fellowship”. This is why the Catechism says that, “No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone… I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166).
As I mentioned last week, I firmly believe that after every Eucharistic Celebration, whenever possible, there should always be some kind of fellowship activity. Moreover, sprinkled throughout the liturgical year, there should be well organized social activities that provide an opportunity for the entire parish to come together for fellowship.
How can we begin to live in our parish family the community life that we are supposed to live? First, start by forming the habit of seeing Jesus in each person. This will certainly help when you do not feel like talking to someone. Jesus is hidden in every individual. Secondly, no one should be seen as a stranger. We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. Thirdly, if you are shy, acquire a new virtue. Force yourself to be outgoing. In this way, you will be sure to make new friends. Fourthly, be universal in your charity. Do not avoid anyone. Do not form clicks. Do not stick to your own age group or your own nationality. If we really do what we are suppose to do, parish life can become a powerful experience. We can really experience the Church as a “Eucharistic fellowship”.[iii]
This is why it is liturgically incorrect to hold hands when we pray the Our Father during the Mass, the Eucharistic Celebration. It is the Eucharist that brings us together and forms us into one body, not the praying of the Our Father. We must not add things to the liturgy that are not authorized by the Holy Father. We already have a proper liturgical gesture that expresses our unity. Before we receive Holy Communion, we exchange an external sign of fraternal charity with the sign of peace. Peace, unity, and fraternal charity are all fruits of the Eucharist.
“Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Corinthians 10: 17).
[i] God and the World, Joseph Ratzinger, p. 409
[ii] Redemptor Hominis, 10.1
[iii] God is Near Us, Joseph Ratzinger, p. 115
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
The Wounds Of The Risen Lord
Did you ever stop to think why Jesus rose from the dead with wounds? Jesus rose from the dead with a glorified body. The barriers of time and space no longer apply to him. The Lord appears and disappears with shocking suddenness. He continually demonstrates his physical reality. The Apostles and the disciples see him, hear him, and eat with him. Thomas is told to touch his wounds. The stone rolled away from the entrance, and the carefully folded burial cloths direct our gaze to the physical. He has truly risen.
The disbelief and uncertainty evidenced by those who saw him testify to an apparent strangeness in the appearance of the newly risen Christ. Slowly they came to recognize him, but they still struggled with doubt. We are accustomed to an annual celebration of Easter. However, for the first disciples of Jesus, resurrection was totally new. Let us remember, that the son of the widow of Nain, Jairus' daughter, and Lazarus were all brought back to life by Jesus, but not one of them continued their lives with a glorified body. Although the risen Jesus is the same Jesus that died on Calvary, his physical reality is now different than before. The body of the risen Lord is indeed his physical body, but he now moves about with a glorified body. Each of us will have a glorified body also at the resurrection of the dead if we persevere and are faithful.
Over and over again the gospels stress that something extraordinary has occurred. The Lord is tangible, but he has been transformed. His life is different from what it once was. His glorified body transcends the limitations of time and space. For this reason he can pass through the closed door of the Upper Room, and appear and disappear as he desires. At times his disciples cannot recognize him precisely because their physical reality moves within time and space, and the Lord's physical reality is no longer subject to time and space, although he exists within time and space...( Continued here)
Did you ever stop to think why Jesus rose from the dead with wounds? Jesus rose from the dead with a glorified body. The barriers of time and space no longer apply to him. The Lord appears and disappears with shocking suddenness. He continually demonstrates his physical reality. The Apostles and the disciples see him, hear him, and eat with him. Thomas is told to touch his wounds. The stone rolled away from the entrance, and the carefully folded burial cloths direct our gaze to the physical. He has truly risen.
The disbelief and uncertainty evidenced by those who saw him testify to an apparent strangeness in the appearance of the newly risen Christ. Slowly they came to recognize him, but they still struggled with doubt. We are accustomed to an annual celebration of Easter. However, for the first disciples of Jesus, resurrection was totally new. Let us remember, that the son of the widow of Nain, Jairus' daughter, and Lazarus were all brought back to life by Jesus, but not one of them continued their lives with a glorified body. Although the risen Jesus is the same Jesus that died on Calvary, his physical reality is now different than before. The body of the risen Lord is indeed his physical body, but he now moves about with a glorified body. Each of us will have a glorified body also at the resurrection of the dead if we persevere and are faithful.
Over and over again the gospels stress that something extraordinary has occurred. The Lord is tangible, but he has been transformed. His life is different from what it once was. His glorified body transcends the limitations of time and space. For this reason he can pass through the closed door of the Upper Room, and appear and disappear as he desires. At times his disciples cannot recognize him precisely because their physical reality moves within time and space, and the Lord's physical reality is no longer subject to time and space, although he exists within time and space...( Continued here)
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
Lazarus Come Out
Holy week is only one week away. It is important that we not only persevere in the Lenten proposals that we made on Ash Wednesday, we should also begin to intensify our spiritual practices so that the change that we are seeking will really take place. This Sunday’s liturgy provides profound spirituality and motivation that will help us deepen our efforts.
Because of the climate of the Holy Land, burial followed death as quickly as possible. By the time Jesus walked the earth, the Jewish funeral rite had become corrupted. The funeral had become exceedingly costly. The finest spices and ointments were used to anoint the body. The body was clothed in the most magnificent robes and all kinds of valuables were buried in the tomb along with the body. Naturally, no one wished to be outdone by his neighbor. A funeral had become an intolerable burden that no one wanted to change, until the famous Rabbi Gamaliel, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, ordered that he was to be buried in the simplest possible linen robe and thus broke the extravagance of funeral customs... (Continued here.)
Holy week is only one week away. It is important that we not only persevere in the Lenten proposals that we made on Ash Wednesday, we should also begin to intensify our spiritual practices so that the change that we are seeking will really take place. This Sunday’s liturgy provides profound spirituality and motivation that will help us deepen our efforts.
Because of the climate of the Holy Land, burial followed death as quickly as possible. By the time Jesus walked the earth, the Jewish funeral rite had become corrupted. The funeral had become exceedingly costly. The finest spices and ointments were used to anoint the body. The body was clothed in the most magnificent robes and all kinds of valuables were buried in the tomb along with the body. Naturally, no one wished to be outdone by his neighbor. A funeral had become an intolerable burden that no one wanted to change, until the famous Rabbi Gamaliel, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, ordered that he was to be buried in the simplest possible linen robe and thus broke the extravagance of funeral customs... (Continued here.)
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
The Blind Shall See
This Sunday’s gospel narrative allows us to examine closely the intense and ever increasing tension developing between the Pharisees who can see physically, but are spiritually blind, and a simple, humble man who is physically blind, but who eventually is able to see who Jesus really is.
The Pharisees deny that which is evident: Jesus healed the man born blind. They refuse to accept that which is obvious. Is not this the situation of our contemporary world?
For example, it is obvious and evident that life begins at the moment of conception, and yet in the face of scientific proof, many continue to promote abortion. If human life did not begin at the moment of conception, why would an abortion be necessary in the first place?
Furthermore, a blind humanity continues to advance destructive practices such as embryonic stem-cell research, homosexual marriages, euthanasia, and human cloning. Many refuse to see the consequences of godless behavior on human society. How much more destruction must take place before people begin to see the truth?
Unfortunately, our own country has become profoundly divided between two opposing forces. On the one hand, the radical left decries any appearance of traditional values in the name of individual rights. When Americans speak out in support of family values, they respond by questioning the substance of these values.
On the other hand, the radical right can be just as polarizing as their counterparts on the left. They decry the immorality of our times, but they are usually void of any Christian charity.
Similarly, this ideological battlefield has caused a profound division in the Catholic Church in America. During a past ad limina visit, Chicago’s Cardinal George addressed these words to Pope John Paul II:
“The Church's mission is threatened internally by divisions which paralyze her ability to act... (Continued here.)
This Sunday’s gospel narrative allows us to examine closely the intense and ever increasing tension developing between the Pharisees who can see physically, but are spiritually blind, and a simple, humble man who is physically blind, but who eventually is able to see who Jesus really is.
The Pharisees deny that which is evident: Jesus healed the man born blind. They refuse to accept that which is obvious. Is not this the situation of our contemporary world?
For example, it is obvious and evident that life begins at the moment of conception, and yet in the face of scientific proof, many continue to promote abortion. If human life did not begin at the moment of conception, why would an abortion be necessary in the first place?
Furthermore, a blind humanity continues to advance destructive practices such as embryonic stem-cell research, homosexual marriages, euthanasia, and human cloning. Many refuse to see the consequences of godless behavior on human society. How much more destruction must take place before people begin to see the truth?
Unfortunately, our own country has become profoundly divided between two opposing forces. On the one hand, the radical left decries any appearance of traditional values in the name of individual rights. When Americans speak out in support of family values, they respond by questioning the substance of these values.
On the other hand, the radical right can be just as polarizing as their counterparts on the left. They decry the immorality of our times, but they are usually void of any Christian charity.
Similarly, this ideological battlefield has caused a profound division in the Catholic Church in America. During a past ad limina visit, Chicago’s Cardinal George addressed these words to Pope John Paul II:
“The Church's mission is threatened internally by divisions which paralyze her ability to act... (Continued here.)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
The Disciple
Jesus begins his public ministry by gathering his first disciples. His method differs from those of the other religious leaders of his day. He does not outwardly challenge the conscience of the people as John the Baptist did. He does not retreat from the world, as did the members of the Qumran community. He is completely different from the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus is unique. He is not distant, strange, or unapproachable as were most ancient philosophers and religious leaders. The Lord adopts a way of life unknown at that time. He has no set plan or organization other than the fulfillment of the will of his heavenly Father. As he encounters each individual personally, he calls each one to a unique relationship with himself. “You did not choose me, no, I choose you” (John 15: 16).
What then, are the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus?
Since a disciple is a student and a follower, each disciple must be a good listener. Listeners are open and attentive. Like Mary, the sister of Martha, the true disciple will be eager to listen, to discover, and to understand. The message will never be subject to critical analysis. Instead, true disciples approach the wellspring of truth seeking to satiate a profound desire for happiness, transcendence, and peace. For true disciples know that only then will they find freedom in the truth.
True discipleship requires perseverance. The journey is long and obstacles abound... (Continued here)
Jesus begins his public ministry by gathering his first disciples. His method differs from those of the other religious leaders of his day. He does not outwardly challenge the conscience of the people as John the Baptist did. He does not retreat from the world, as did the members of the Qumran community. He is completely different from the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus is unique. He is not distant, strange, or unapproachable as were most ancient philosophers and religious leaders. The Lord adopts a way of life unknown at that time. He has no set plan or organization other than the fulfillment of the will of his heavenly Father. As he encounters each individual personally, he calls each one to a unique relationship with himself. “You did not choose me, no, I choose you” (John 15: 16).
What then, are the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus?
Since a disciple is a student and a follower, each disciple must be a good listener. Listeners are open and attentive. Like Mary, the sister of Martha, the true disciple will be eager to listen, to discover, and to understand. The message will never be subject to critical analysis. Instead, true disciples approach the wellspring of truth seeking to satiate a profound desire for happiness, transcendence, and peace. For true disciples know that only then will they find freedom in the truth.
True discipleship requires perseverance. The journey is long and obstacles abound... (Continued here)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
Every human person will find meaning in life by being open to God. The Three Kings, were not Jewish, they came from the Orient. Some scholars believe that they began their travels together from Persia, while others believe that they came from three different regions of the Orient, one of them maybe even being China.
Obviously, the Magi were not part of the chosen people. They were not Jews. They were part of the vast populace of people extended throughout the known world at that time who were called pagans, or gentiles.
The Three Kings of this Sunday’s gospel narrative are men who are left unsatisfied by their possessions of wealth, fame and power, and search for the only one who can satisfy the deepest aspirations of the human heart. They longed to find the very meaning of their existence.
After a long and difficult search, they discover the place where he lays, and they encounter the One who has come to redeem us and fulfill our intense longings. They know who he is because they bring him the most appropriate gifts: gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for a victim. They know that he is the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, the only one through whom salvation can be found.
Because the Three Kings were open, they were given the gift of faith. Through this gift they searched, they found, and they believed.
Certainly today, one of the most blinding obstacles to the search for meaning and truth is secularism.
Secularism only concerns itself with the here and now. It has no use for matters regarding... (Continued here.)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Fr. James's Sunday Homily: Third Week of Advent
Rejoice Always!
The lighting of the pink candle of the Advent Wreath reminds us that Christmas is almost here. The theme of this Sunday’s liturgy is joy and St. Paul tells us to rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near” (Philippians 4: 4, 5).
What is joy? The dictionary defines joy as an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. It is also defined as a state of happiness or felicity. In Catholicism, joy is a state of soul equated with happiness and it is also defined as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Joy is not to be understood as something superficial or immature. The person who is filled with Christian joy possesses an immense treasure because the true Christian can smile and laugh even in the middle of the most terrible adversities and sufferings. St. Lawrence, when he was being cooked alive by his torturers, joked and told them to turn him over.
Over the years I have noticed that the one main thing that our modern world is missing is joy. I see a lot of people walking around without a smile on their face. I have often asked myself what the cause of this problem might be. It seems to me that a lot of people are selfish, self-absorbed and even some are narcissistic.
Christianity is completely opposite to selfishness, self-absorption and narcissism. Christianity demands a radical reorientation of our personal lives. We must be empty of all self-seeking. “His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 6-8). All throughout the Gospels Jesus tells us that we must die to self in order to be his disciples and he shows us over and over again how we must live our lives for others.
My dear friends, selfishness, self-absorption and narcissism are totally incompatible with Christianity. There are many things in our modern society that are causing... (Continued here.)
The lighting of the pink candle of the Advent Wreath reminds us that Christmas is almost here. The theme of this Sunday’s liturgy is joy and St. Paul tells us to rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near” (Philippians 4: 4, 5).
What is joy? The dictionary defines joy as an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. It is also defined as a state of happiness or felicity. In Catholicism, joy is a state of soul equated with happiness and it is also defined as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Joy is not to be understood as something superficial or immature. The person who is filled with Christian joy possesses an immense treasure because the true Christian can smile and laugh even in the middle of the most terrible adversities and sufferings. St. Lawrence, when he was being cooked alive by his torturers, joked and told them to turn him over.
Over the years I have noticed that the one main thing that our modern world is missing is joy. I see a lot of people walking around without a smile on their face. I have often asked myself what the cause of this problem might be. It seems to me that a lot of people are selfish, self-absorbed and even some are narcissistic.
Christianity is completely opposite to selfishness, self-absorption and narcissism. Christianity demands a radical reorientation of our personal lives. We must be empty of all self-seeking. “His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 6-8). All throughout the Gospels Jesus tells us that we must die to self in order to be his disciples and he shows us over and over again how we must live our lives for others.
My dear friends, selfishness, self-absorption and narcissism are totally incompatible with Christianity. There are many things in our modern society that are causing... (Continued here.)
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Fr. James's Sunday Homily: Second Sunday of Advent
Why is an obscure figure of the Bible relevant for us today? Why does the Catholic Church, on the Second Sunday of Advent, present John the Baptist for our reflection?
St. John the Baptist commands our interest because he is a witness. By his witness, he reminds us that we are called to be witnesses. And in any age, to be a witness is challenging.
The witness of John the Baptist begins with his birth. The miraculous circumstances of his conception and birth direct our attention to the mysterious and transcendent. An angel announces his birth to a woman well beyond childbearing years. His father is struck dumb for his disbelief. As an infant, John, leaps in his mother's womb when he is in the presence of the Messiah's mother. Upon his birth, he is given not his father's name, but rather the name, John, which translates "Yahweh is gracious". With the giving of this name spoken by the angel, John's father, Zechariah, recovers his power of speech. Thus the miraculous circumstances surrounding his beginnings give witness to a sacred world, a world reaching beyond time and space.
As an adult, his chosen surroundings bear witness to a different reality. John is a man of the desert. He totally separates himself from the world in order to give testimony of another world. Within his solitude he is able to hear the voice of God. Between the center of Judea and the Dead Sea exists one of the most austere deserts of the world. John the Baptist made this place his home. His home is a testimony of what our souls must be in order to listen to God and to possess him. Our journey during this Advent should bring about a deeper detachment from earthly creatures so that we may come closer to God... (Continued here.)
,
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. It is interesting to note how the liturgical year ends with the theme of the Second Coming, while at the same time, the new liturgical year also focuses on the same theme. Since we are about to celebrate Christmas, we would suppose that the new liturgical year would begin chronologically with a reflection on the Incarnation. However, that is not the case. The reason why the liturgical year ends and begins with the same theme is clear: if we have already embraced Jesus in His first coming, we will have no fear of His second coming.
It is also interesting to note that the new liturgical year begins with a penitential season; i.e. the season of Advent. The priest and deacon now use purple colored vestments. As the world around us prepares for Christmas with an ever increasing emphasis on material things, the Church directs our gaze toward the spiritual. The liturgical calendar begins differently from the secular calendar precisely because the Church, while in the world, is not of the world. Advent is a penitential season because Christmas is about our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not about external celebrations. In this Sunday’s reading St. Paul exhorts us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”. The external celebrations should be seen as a visible manifestation of our joy of being disciples of Jesus Christ.
Advent, as a penitential season, prepares us to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's... (Continued here.)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Fr. James's Homily: Feast of Christ the King!
The Kingdom Of Christ
I have always been inspired by the example of Blessed Miguel Pro of Mexico who as a priest of the Society of Jesus, lived during a very trying time for the Mexican people. The Catholic Church was terribly persecuted. A popular uprising of Catholic laymen called the Cristeros rose to the occasion to free the Church from oppression. Blessed Miguel Pro died as a martyr, executed on the firing squad by federal soldiers on November 23, 1927.
As he stood, waiting for the shots that would end his earthly life and begin a new life in the kingdom of Heaven, he forgave his executioners, and spreading out his arms in the form of a cross he cried out ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Long live Christ the King!
This is the kind of zeal and conviction that the kingdom needs from all of us. No true reforms will take place in the Church; no renewal will take place in our nation until Jesus Christ... (Continued here.)
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
We are Sinners
Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture. Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout the storm's duration. The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spaghetti-like web out of the individual bolts. In such a way, our sin presents itself before the eyes of God. Where we see only isolated or individual acts, God sees the overall web of our sinning. What may seem insignificant to us and passes with hardly any notice taken, creates a much more dramatic display from God's panoramic viewpoint.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves. The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34: 18, 22).
What is sin? Man calls it an accident; God calls it an abomination. Man calls it... (Continued here.)
Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture. Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout the storm's duration. The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spaghetti-like web out of the individual bolts. In such a way, our sin presents itself before the eyes of God. Where we see only isolated or individual acts, God sees the overall web of our sinning. What may seem insignificant to us and passes with hardly any notice taken, creates a much more dramatic display from God's panoramic viewpoint.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves. The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34: 18, 22).
What is sin? Man calls it an accident; God calls it an abomination. Man calls it... (Continued here.)
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Fr. James's Sunday Homily
An unknown Confederate soldier once wrote this prayer: “I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked God for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for--but everything I had hoped for... Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men most richly blessed”.
This Sunday’s Gospel narrative reminds us that we are to trust in God and be close to him through a life of prayer.
Prayer is very powerful. A number of years ago research at San Francisco General Hospital has revealed that victims of heart attack, heart failure and other cardiac problems who were remembered in prayers fared better than those who were not. Cardiologist Randy Byrd assigned 192 patients to the "prayed-for" group and 201 patients to the "not-prayed-for" group. All patients were in the coronary intensive care unit. Patients, doctors and nurses did not know which group patients were in. Prayer group members were scattered around the nation and given only the first names, diagnoses and prognoses of patients. The researcher said that the results were dramatic. The prayed-for group had significantly fewer complications than the unremembered group. And fewer members of the former died. The latter group was five times more likely to develop infections requiring antibiotics, and three times more likely to develop a lung condition, leading to heart failure. (Continued here)
This Sunday’s Gospel narrative reminds us that we are to trust in God and be close to him through a life of prayer.
Prayer is very powerful. A number of years ago research at San Francisco General Hospital has revealed that victims of heart attack, heart failure and other cardiac problems who were remembered in prayers fared better than those who were not. Cardiologist Randy Byrd assigned 192 patients to the "prayed-for" group and 201 patients to the "not-prayed-for" group. All patients were in the coronary intensive care unit. Patients, doctors and nurses did not know which group patients were in. Prayer group members were scattered around the nation and given only the first names, diagnoses and prognoses of patients. The researcher said that the results were dramatic. The prayed-for group had significantly fewer complications than the unremembered group. And fewer members of the former died. The latter group was five times more likely to develop infections requiring antibiotics, and three times more likely to develop a lung condition, leading to heart failure. (Continued here)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)