Christmas 2020

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ...If anyone is afraid of the darkness caused by COVID, read the "Beautiful Psalm" #103 here. It will help you renew your energy in the Lord. My spiritual director, Fr. Daniel Callam; CSB, recommended it for me. First: In the Midnight Mass of Christmas in St. Peter's Basilica, celebrated by Pope Francis, the Holy Father gave a homily that reminded the faithful how Christ is always born again for us... The text can be read here. Some of the most beautiful words in his homily are shown below: [Tonight, the great prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Is 9:6). To us a son is given. We often hear it said that the greatest joy in life is the birth of a child. It is something extraordinary and it changes everything. It brings an excitement that makes us think nothing of weariness, discomfort, and sleepless nights, for it fills us with indescribable and incomparable happiness. That is what Christmas is: the birth of Jesus is the “newness” that enables us to be reborn each year and to find, in him, the strength needed to face every trial. Why? Because his birth is for us – for me, for you, for everyone. “For” is a word that appears again and again on this holy night: “For us a child is born”, Isaiah prophesied. “For us is born this day a Saviour”, we repeated in the Psalm. Jesus “gave himself for us” (Tit 2:14), Saint Paul tells us, and in the Gospel, the angel proclaims: “For to you is born this day a Saviour” (Lk 2:11).Yet what do those words – for us – really mean? They mean that the Son of God, the one who is holy by nature, came to make us, as God’s children, holy by grace. Yes, God came into the world as a child to make us children of God. What a magnificent gift! This day, God amazes us and says to each of us: “You are amazing”. Dear sister, dear brother, never be discouraged. Are you tempted to feel you were a mistake? God tells you, “No, you are my child!” Do you have a feeling of failure or inadequacy, the fear that you will never emerge from the dark tunnel of trial? God says to you, “Have courage, I am with you”. He does this not in words, but by making himself a child with you and for you. In this way, he reminds you that the starting point of all rebirth is the recognition that we are children of God. This is the undying heart of our hope, the incandescent core that gives warmth and meaning to our life. Underlying all our strengths and weaknesses, stronger than all our past hurts and failures, or our fears and concerns about the future, there is this great truth: we are beloved sons and daughters. God’s love for us does not, and never will, depend upon us. It is completely free love, pure grace. Tonight, Saint Paul tells us, “the grace of God has appeared” (Tit 2:11).Nothing is more precious than this.] Second: I received another great text from Rev. Dr. Anita Gaide, pastor of the Lutheran parish in Toronto. titled The Power of God’s Love [‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God.’ (John 1:1). God reveals His power through his Word. Note that the first three words of the Gospel of John are the same as the Book of Genesis. GOD is revealed as Creator, as Saviour and as Redeemer. ‘And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.’ (John 1:5). We think of the power of God, but also his powerlessness in the event of the crucifixion. However, the greatest powerlessness of God in the death of Jesus turns out to be the greatest power in His victorious resurrection. As He rose to life eternal, we are given the possibility of redemption in the hope and reality of eternal life. His mercy is surely expressed in this manifestation of the power of his great love for all humanity.There is a musical documentary about the Christmas Truce of 1915 which features the singing of some twenty men dressed plainly in black somber clothing. They are the forgotten, the dead, those who gave up their lives in the First Great War. The documentary is about one night, the night of the Christmas truce where one lone German soldier rises to cross the enemy lines. He is unarmed and he sings to the glory of God in the highest heavens. The men arise from the darkness, one by one, coming out of the grey mists of time to resume their rightful place as the living. Lest we never forget. These heroes of the war sacrificed all, the chance of having a career, family and a long life lived together in the midst of their loved family members. One young soldier even remarked that they would be home for Christmas. This war would surely be over by then. However, the war was far from over. Millions would die, many in senseless, uncaring deaths, slaughtered for a cause that is still debated today. The Pope called for a ceasefire, but to no avail.Yet that one night of grace in 1915, the power of God’ s love shone forth and His glory stood all around. The soldiers on both sides raised their voices in song. They sang of love, home and the peace embodied by men of goodwill. One of the most poignant songs was Silent Night performed in three different languages, French, German and English and in three different keys. In canon, their voices, gentle at first rose to the heavens above. Christ came down and was among them where they lay in the trenches. Over a hundred years later, we, as both audience members and also witnesses, were moved to tears, as were the documentary writers and cast members. All were changed for ever in the rendering of the past, bringing these forgotten heroes to life. Each singing member introduced himself and his name will be inscribed in the annals of history forever. The glory of God shone through that night. Peace and goodwill remained and enemies were reminded that they were brothers after all, united in a common humanity and bound by the power of God’ s love in Christ.] Third: The Joy of Christmas with Georges Farah While we celebrate Christmas, we miss Fr. George Farah, the priest who was pastor of Jesus the King parish for the past-twenty one years. A man of joyful character, his last name “Farah”means joy. He joked with me that he and I not only carried the same name “George” but almost the same last name except that mine “Farahat” meant multiple joys. In reality George Farah has been an outstanding minister of joy, not only at Christmas but all the time in preaching and action. A man for people, he celebrated with all and invited all to enjoy their gifts together in the Church and elsewhere whether in the Eucharist, lectures, church festivals, or outings. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, he said quoting St. Paul. It is the sign of Christians who, in spite of their weakness and sufferings, are called to rejoice in meeting the other and grow in faith to Christ. Fr. Georges Farah obtained a doctorate in philosophy and another in theology from the highly-esteemed Sorbonne in Paris. Yet his academic credentials did not alter his joyous character but only deepened his faith in the love of God. God, he preached, is not only the generous father, but is an outpouring love for all human beings; sinners and saints. As taught by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, God is the eternal self-sacrifice abandonment or love of the Father to his eternal Son Jesus Christ and the Son returning love with gratitude to his eternal Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit who is the binding love. The Church is the minister of love who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, witnesses to Christ in the entire world. “The Holy Spirit reveals the Son and the Son reveals the Father” he said.A philosopher himself, George Farah was interviewed about God and freedom since his doctorate thesis in philosophy dealt with Nietzsche's post-modern philosophy. Nietzsche had questioned the morality of power in religion. For him, a God who presses his power on humans through an agency or religion is not real because he strips humanity of their freedom and creativity. In George Farah, the God of Christians offers the only real freedom that guarantees human development, not only in eternal love, but in appreciating human creativity and dignity too here on earth. The entire philosophical and scientific explorations rooted in Christian civilization are only the beginning of realizing that God is in us, encourages us and moves us to him. It is this freedom of Man's dream in becoming God, one with God, for which the Word of God assumed our nature. How was it possible that God could assume our nature in the incarnation of the Word (Christ)? George Farah responds “God could not stay away from his beloved creation. His love made him become one of us and dwell with us 'Emmanuel'.” God does not wish anyone to be lost. He came for the lost (Cf. Matthew 18:14; Luke 15: 4, 9, 24, 32; Luke 19: 10; John 6: 12). Today we need to examine our conscience and return Christ to Christmas by educating ourselves and children guided by the Church, exiting ourselves and our worries, thinking of others, praying for the sick, an helping as much as we can the needy in our community and especially the suffering Christians in the Middle East. Fourth: The Jesuit scholar Fr. Henri Boulad gave a homily this morning in Cairo. He said that while everyone fears COVID and is therefore confined at home, some 100,000 kids are under bombardment in Yemen. The news of the lost children in Yemen are seldom followed or published in the mainstream media, because the West is not involved. The battles are between factions of Arabs and other factions of Arabs/Muslims. Where is God? Is God in heaven looking down at humans that are killing children ? Does he care? Why is atheism widespread ? A God who looks down on the misery of people is not my God, said Fr. Boulad. But he came down and was born a child in Bethlehem to be with us "Emmanuel". This is our Christ - He is God the Saviour says St. Paul "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:6) Have a blessed Christmas!

The Beautiful Psalm !

Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, 3 Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, 4 Who redeems your life from the pit,a and crowns you with mercy and compassion, 5 Who fills your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.* II 6 The LORD does righteous deeds, brings justice to all the oppressed.b 7 He made known his ways to Moses, to the Israelites his deeds. 8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.c 9 He will not always accuse, and nurses no lasting anger; 10 He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve. III 11 For as the heavens tower over the earth, so his mercy towers over those who fear him.d 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. 14 For he knows how we are formed, remembers that we are dust.e 15 As for man, his days are like the grass; he blossoms like a flower in the field.f 16 A wind sweeps over it and it is gone; its place knows it no more. 17 But the LORD’s mercy is from age to age, toward those who fear him. His salvation is for the children’s children 18 of those who keep his covenant, and remember to carry out his precepts. IV 19 The LORD has set his throne in heaven; his dominion extends over all. 20 Bless the LORD, all you his angels,g mighty in strength, acting at his behest, obedient to his command. 21 Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, his ministers who carry out his will. 22 Bless the LORD, all his creatures, everywhere in his domain. Bless the LORD, my soul!

Two Homilies

On Wednesday December 16, 2020 I listened to two homilies that I thought would be of true value to me and my readers. The first was by Msgr. Sam Bianco at the Daily TV Mass here. Msgr. Bianco commented on the Gospel's reading from Luke "John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?' When the men came to the Lord, they said, 'John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’ At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply,'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Msgr. Bianco said that in the ancient culture, 'offense' meant a trap to capture a bird. What trap was John the Baptist facing in his relationship to Jesus? Part of it is the expectation that John the Baptist had for Jesus. John the Baptist would have destroyed evil. He thought that the God of wrath would not tolerate evil. Jesus was probably a stumbling block because he showed himself a merciful God... He touched the lepers that he healed, and the blinds whose light of eyes he restored. He was physically present to the people that he healed - a COVID, or sickness. He had compassion for the poor, sinners, and the trodden. The second homily was that of Pope Francis: Pope Francis on December 16 encouraged everyone to “‘hasten their steps’ toward Christmas,” taking up the restrictions that will characterize this year’s holiday as a chance to make the feast more “authentic, more true.” The pope offered this encouragement at the end of the Wednesday general audience, which he dedicated to the theme of intercessory prayer. He said: I would like to encourage everyone to ‘hasten their steps’ toward Christmas, the true Christmas, that is to say, the birth of Jesus Christ. This year, restrictions and inconveniences await us; but let’s think of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph’s Christmas: it wasn’t a rose garden! How many difficulties they had! How many concerns! And yet faith, hope and love guided and sustained them. May it be thus also for us! May it also help us – this difficulty – to purify a bit the way we live Christmas, the way we celebrate, leaving consumerism behind: May it be more religious, more authentic, more true." More here.

Henri Boulad: The Infinite is within You !

Yes. The Infinite is within You. This is what the Jesuit scholar Fr. Henri Boulad said in his homily today Sunday December 13, 2020. Fr. Boulad spoke of it as a inner movement of conversion. He told a story of a young man that wished to be rich and, on his way of looking into this desire, he met an old man who, upon learning from the young man about his desire, directed him to go into a cave. As the young man goes into the cave, he finds himself in darkness that blinds him. However, when he touches the wall, he finds himself before a large and luminous palace full of treasures and in the middle a large table of delicious food. He needed to have courage in order to make a decision and start the journey...And Fr. Boulad said that he experienced the same reality. It is the road to fulfillment. Every human person will have to take the same road. We all have in ourselves the hidden treasure. Yet we do not really see it. I think that we are too busy with the things that float outside. We need to start the process of conversion. Let us read it in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. The vision that Saul experienced is the same. The word "conversion" has been used since the early Fathers from the Greek "Metanoia." In The Acts of the Apostles, it is written "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani'as. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Anani'as." And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, and he has seen a man named Anani'as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.' But Anani'as answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.' But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.'" (Acts 9:1-16). Years ago, Fr. Henri Boulad gave a homily in Advent. Listen here: "Jesus is a revelation. Jesus is a revolution". But what kind of revolution? "Jesus empties heaven and moves the [Divine presence] to be among us: Emmanuel." and continues "Is it possible that God makes such a radical move? I have a response here to our Muslim brothers who think it is impossible. For them God cannot descend from heaven without losing his honor and dignity." Listen carefully because here Henri Boulad summarizes the Christian Mystery in as simple language as possible "If Jesus Christ is an illusion...If Christianity is a sheer mystification...If God did not come to us and did not descend from his heaven...If he did not take the radical and seemingly impossible leap of the incarnation, then he ceases being credible - he ceases being love - he ceases being God." Let us reflect. Here is the message: "The scandal of the Incarnation, which means that we cannot believe that God could debase himself, becomes the key and the supreme proof that this is the truth." "But a God in heaven well served who looks to me and says 'You suffer. Have courage. Perhaps one day you will be with me in my heaven' is not God. A God who says 'Patience. I am fine here but you over there can suffer' is not God. This is the false God that we, often, figure that he sends us prophets from time to time to console us' . NO, NO. NO. This God who looks to me with a telescope is not my God. I do not want him." "If there is a phenomenon of atheism today in the West as well as in Egypt, it is precisely because men say we are in fact better than God. The walk that I walk to help when I see a hungry person or a thirsty one or a person without faith, can't God do it? Has he no choice regarding his honor?" "No. He did it. This is the supreme proof of the Christian Mystery. Do not look somewhere else. 'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' He descended. No more seventh heaven..." "The only God I can believe, love and worship is the God Jesus Christ because he descended to me." "'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' " And the great preacher and Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad finished here his homily. I love Jesus. He loved me before I knew him. I am the Prodigal Son who needs God. In Jesus, God came to earth.In the Eucharist, he is within me. Let us sing to Him: Love Divine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw5ZCZeS32M

The Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

I wish to share my experience this week starting Sunday December 6, 2020. On Sunday, in his homily, the Jesuit scholar Fr. Henri Boulad spoke about his dream when he was only 17 years old and his commitment to Christ since then as he turned 90 this year! Some years ago when he was 78 years old, his long mission of over 50 years seemed to have come to an end when he suddenly fell seriously ill. He then asked the Lord "If you want to take me home, I am ready. If you want me to continue this mission, please give me an answer." And the good Lord answered him...Henri Boulad suddenly felt that he has been renewed with energy to continue in spite of his weakness for as long as he can...He drew a parallel with Moses. Moses was allowed to speak to God in the unconsumed bush on Mount Sinai.There God asked him to speak to Egypt's rulers in spite of his heavy tongue (Exodus 4: 10) in order to let his people go to the Promised Land. And Moses lived 120 years after he liberated God's chosen people. Henri Boulad too could live up to be 120 years old for the mission he is called to fulfill. He does not control his life because he let God do it. It is a matter of love for God through his creation. On Tuesday, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis said "The feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the grandeur of God's love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary he even averts the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world. This is the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves. The beginning of the history of sin in the Garden of Eden yields to a plan of saving love. The words of Genesis reflect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God's will. This is the enmity which keeps striking at people's lives, setting them in opposition to God's plan. Yet the history of sin can only be understood in the light of God's love and forgiveness." In an Apostolic Letter dedicated to Saint Joseph, titled “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalled the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021. Also on Tuesday night, at the Melkite Greek Catholic parish in Toronto, a solemn Divine Liturgy celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was celebrated by Msgr. Makarios Wehbi assisted by Fr. Michel Chalhoub and sung by the renowned Homsy choir. In his homily, Msgr.Makarios In his homily, Msgr. Makarios clarified that Mary was conceived without sin. Yet she lived a life of fellowship with God our Savior. The early Church Fathers called her "The New Eve" who contrary to Eve that disobeyed God, Mary obeyed God. Under the cross she became our mother - She is Mother of the Church... As Christmas is approaching, let us ask the Lord to bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is officially approved for use in Canada, with limited rollout set to begin to priority groups “within days” and vaccination of the general population anticipated to start in April.(See article here)

Biblical Commentary on Jesus' Healing of the Woman Bent due to Infirmity for 18 years (Luke 13: 10-17)

Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Luke 13:10-17 EXEGESIS: Source on the Web: Sermon Writer - Resources for Lectionary Preaching here LUKE 13:10-17. THE CONTEXT This story follows on the heels of several related incidents. In this incident, Jesus’ opponent is the leader of the synagogue—one of the religious elite. Jesus has just recently delivered a scathing denunciation of Pharisees and lawyers (11:37-54)—also members of the religious elite. Then he warned his disciples of hypocrisy of the Pharisees (12:1-3). Then he spoke of the need for repentance, saying, “unless you repent, you will all perish” (13:5). “Coming on the heels of (that) episode…, this episode implicitly singles out the ‘leader of the synagogue’ (v. 14) and ‘all …(Jesus’) opponents’ (v. 17) as prime examples of those who stand in need of such (repentance)” (Fitzmyer, 1011). This story is similar to 6:6-11 (Mark 3:1-6), the story of a man with a withered hand, and 14:1-6, the story of a man with dropsy. In each of these three stories, Jesus heals on the Sabbath and is opposed by religious leaders. In 6:6-11, Jesus defended his actions by asking whether it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath. In 14:1-6, he will note that it is permissible to pull an ox out of a ditch on the Sabbath—an argument similar that in our Gospel lesson. What does it mean to keep the Sabbath holy? Christians today tend to treat the matter of holy observance casually. For most Christians today, such observance involves, at best, an hour of public worship each week. Outside that hour, we feel free to engage in work, recreation, and shopping. We would do well to recover a sense of holy time—time to honor God. Being set free from the law does not free us from responsibility. If the ruler of the synagogue erred by being too legalistic about the Sabbath, we are more likely to err by being too casual about the ways and times that we honor God. This is Jesus’ last appearance in a synagogue in this Gospel. It is clear that opposition to him is mounting, and such opposition is intensified because of his victories over his opponents in the verbal joustings that accompany his healings. LUKE 13:10-13. WOMAN, YOU ARE FREED 10He (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. 11Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, “Woman, you are freed (Greek: apolelusai—from the same root word as luei in v. 15 and luthenai in v. 16) from your infirmity.” 13He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God. “He (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day” (v. 10). It is Jesus’ custom to attend worship in the synagogue (4:16), and he is often invited to teach. By the time that Luke wrote this Gospel, the temple had been destroyed, and synagogues were the heart of Jewish religious life. “Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years” (v. 11a). Literally, the woman has “a spirit of weakness or infirmity” (pneuma echousa astheneias). In verse 16, her condition is described as bondage to Satan, although Jesus does not treat the healing as an exorcism. She has been crippled for eighteen years, half a lifetime in an age when life expectancy is short. “and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up” (v. 11b). Luke, the physician, reports a medical problem—one that he as a human physician would be unable to cure. A posture problem of this magnitude would interfere with everyday tasks and social relationships. It would put a strain on organs of the body, affecting health in various ways. She is forced to spend life looking down at the ground rather than up at the sky. She cannot look people in the eye. “When Jesus saw her, he called her” (v. 12a). The woman came for worship instead of healing, and does not approach Jesus or request healing. There is no mention of the woman’s faith. It is Jesus’ initiative—Jesus’ call to the woman—Jesus’ faith—that sets the stage for this healing. “Woman, you are freed (apolelusa) from your infirmity” (v. 12b). The Greek word, apolelusai, comes from the same root word as luei (untie) in verse 15 and luthenai (set free) in verse 16. Just as God’s creative word has power (Genesis 1:3, 6, etc.), so also Jesus’ word has power. “He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God” (v. 13). Laying on of hands is usually accompanied by prayer, but no mention is made of prayer here. Her healing is immediate. She stands straight and begins to praise God. LUKE 13:14. NOT ON THE SABBATH DAY 14The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought (Greek: dei—a divine imperative—commanded by God) to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!” “The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude” (v. 14a). The synagogue leader does not rebuke Jesus or address him directly, possibly because he has heard that Jesus has bested other religious leaders when challenged directly. Nor does the synagogue leader rebuke the woman who, after all, did not request this healing. Instead, he addresses the crowd, in the process delivering an indirect rebuke both to Jesus and to the woman. Even though we understand that he was wrong, we must admire his willingness to carry out what he believed to be his Godly responsibility to uphold the Sabbath even at the risk of having to match wits with Jesus. “There are six days in which men ought to work” (v. 14b). The Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15) prohibits work on the Sabbath. It cites the example of God, who rested on the seventh day, and requires that the day be kept holy. Not only are Jewish people prohibited from working on the Sabbath, but they are also prohibited from working their servants or animals. Sabbath and food regulations, more than anything, help to define the Jewish people. What constitutes work on the Sabbath is an ongoing discussion among rabbis, who have codified elaborate rules for proper observation of the Sabbath. “Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day” (v. 14c). The synagogue leader’s complaint is rooted in the chronic nature of this woman’s illness. She has been suffering for eighteen years, is not acutely ill, and is in no danger of dying. Sabbath laws prohibit travel on the Sabbath, so she and Jesus will be in town when the Sabbath ends. The purpose of the Sabbath is to honor God, so why can’t Jesus honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy (free from work) and heal the woman once the Sabbath is ended? Good question! If the healing were to be delayed for a few hours, the Sabbath would be honored and the woman would be healed—two for the price of one! We have become so accustomed to this story that we too easily dismiss the honest, if misguided, concerns of the synagogue leader. If this man were a fool or a knave, the story would lose force. But he holds a responsible position, and is trying to uphold what he understands to be holy. What he fails to understand is that acts of compassion are holy. It is as if the Torah, intended to reveal God’s will, has become a veil over his eyes. Jesus has sharp words for this man, but he also has sharp words for Martha (10:41-42), Peter (Matthew 16:23), and his own mother (Luke 2:49; 8:21; John 2:4). The fact that Jesus rebukes a person does not necessarily mean that the person is a scoundrel. Every person in a position of authority struggles with appropriate limits and enforcement of standards. Where do you draw the line? What exceptions do you allow? What consequences do you impose for failure to meet standards? Parents, teachers, employers, supervisors, law enforcement officials and religious leaders struggle with such issues. In this story, Jesus calls us not to hew to the rules to the extent that we lose sight of the person in need. It is a Godly thing to help such a person. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). LUKE 13:15-16. OUGHT NOT THIS DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM BE FREED 15Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! (Greek: hupokritai—pretenders) Doesn’t each one of you free (Greek: luei—free—from the same root as apolelusai in v. 12 and luthenai in v. 16) his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water? 16Ought not (Greek: ouk edei—is it not necessary—is it not God’s will) this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed (Greek: luthenai) from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?” (v. 15). The word “hypocrites” is plural, so Jesus is speaking to this man and those who share his mindset. The synagogue leader addressed his criticism to the crowd rather than to Jesus, but Jesus responds directly to him and his kind. If the synagogue leader intended to establish his authority by addressing the crowd, Jesus quickly establishes that it is he rather than the synagogue leader who is in charge. The hypocrisy of the synagogue leader has to do with his inconsistency: • The leader believes that the Torah permits helping animals on the Sabbath—but not humans. • The leader believes that it is acceptable on the Sabbath to free (luei) an animal that has been confined for a few hours but unacceptable to free (luthenai—from the same root word as luei) a woman who has been bound for eighteen years. We should note that the animal would not die if deprived of water for a day. We should also note that it would be possible to fill a trough with water prior to the Sabbath and to tie animals so that they have access to it. Water for the animal is no more a life-and-death issue than this woman’s bent back. Nevertheless, this synagogue leader would permit the loosing of an animal on the Sabbath to lessen its discomfort, but criticizes Jesus for extending similar compassion to this woman. We should not imagine that this is discrimination against the woman because of her gender. In the next chapter, Luke will relate a similar controversy when Jesus heals a man who has dropsy (14:1-6). • The leader presumably believes that it is holy to “love kindness” (Micah 6:8), but not on the holy Sabbath. • The leader believes that it violates Torah law to free a woman from Satan’s bondage on the Sabbath. “Ought (edei—from dei—a divine imperative reflecting God’s will) not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” (v. 16). Rather than violating Sabbath law, freeing this woman is consistent with Sabbath intention and enhances rather than diminishes Sabbath observance. “a daughter of Abraham” (v. 16). This phrase occurs only here in the Old and New Testaments, but the phrase, “son of Abraham,” occurs several times, including once in this Gospel (19:9) when Jesus restores Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham. Earlier, Jesus warned people not to think that they could neglect repentance because they were children of Abraham. He warned, “God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (3:8). This does not mean that it is inconsequential to be a son or daughter of Abraham, but that true sonship/daughtership involves more than physical lineage. Jesus argues from the lesser to the greater. If it is right to loose an ox or donkey on the Sabbath, it must be right to loose a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound. It is holy work to show compassion on the Sabbath. It is holy work to defeat Satan on the Sabbath. LUKE 13:17. AND ALL THE MULTITUDE REJOICED 17As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. “As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed” (v. 17a). Jesus wins this round. His opponents are shamed, and “all the multitude” is glad. The crowd is made up of ordinary people who know what it means to suffer. They can easily identify with the woman who has suffered so long. They rejoice at her release from crippling disease—and also at the synagogue leader’s discomfiture. Ordinary people often suffer at the hands of rigid authority, and they have surely felt the sting of this man’s pronouncements-from-on-high. They are delighted at seeing him put in his place. Jesus only recently said, “I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division” (12:49-51). Now we see that principle demonstrated. This division will persist throughout Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. We can imagine the smoldering anger of Jesus’ opponents, who will not forget this public humiliation. At the moment, they are helpless to retaliate, but their time will come. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc.), which the WEB has updated. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Barclay, William, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of Luke (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 1953) Bock, Darrell L., The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke, Vol. 3 (Downers Grove, Illinois, Intervarsity Press, 1994) Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; McCann, J. Clinton; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV–Year C (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994) Craddock, Fred B., Interpretation: Luke (Louisville: John Knox Press,(1990) Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holliday, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, C (Valley Forge: Trinity Press, 1994) Culpepper, R. Alan, The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IX. (Nashville: Abingdon , 1995) Evans, Craig A., New International Biblical Commentary: Luke (Peabody, MA, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1990) Gilmour, S. MacLean & Buttrick, George A., The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 8. (Nashville: Abingdon , 1952) Green, Joel B., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997) Johnson, Luke Timothy, Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Luke (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1991) Nickle, Keith F., Preaching the Gospel of Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000) Nolland, John, Word : Luke 9:21—18:34, Vol. 35B (Dallas: Word Books, 1993) Reid, Barbara E., in Van Harn, Roger (ed.), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday’s Text. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001) Ringe, Sharon H., Westminster Bible Companion, Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press) Soards, Marion; Dozeman, Thomas; and McCabe, Kendall, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C: After Pentecost (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994) Stein, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Luke (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992)

Human Exploration

Human Exploration To BE CONTINUED

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down

"Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down" (Is 63:19B). This verse from Isaiah 63 is in today's Biblical reading (Sunday November 29, 2020). Six years ago, the Jesuit scholar Fr. Henri Boulad made reference to this verse in his homily in Advent...Listen here: "Jesus is a revelation. Jesus is a revolution". But what kind of revolution? "Jesus empties heaven and moves the [Divine presence] to be among us: Emmanuel." and continues "Is it possible that God makes such a radical move? I have a response here to our Muslim brothers who think it is impossible. For them God cannot descend from heaven without losing his honor and dignity." Listen carefully because here Henri Boulad summarizes the Christian Mystery in as simple language as possible "If Jesus Christ is an illusion...If Christianity is a sheer mystification...If God did not come to us and did not descend from his heaven...If he did not take the radical and seemingly impossible leap of the incarnation, then he ceases being credible - he ceases being love - he ceases being God." Let us reflect. Here is the message: "The scandal of the Incarnation, which means that we cannot believe that God could debase himself, becomes the key and the supreme proof that this is the truth." "But a God in heaven well served who looks to me and says 'You suffer. Have courage. Perhaps one day you will be with me in my heaven' is not God. A God who says 'Patience. I am fine here but you over there can suffer' is not God. This is the false God that we, often, figure that he sends us prophets from time to time to console us' . NO, NO. NO. This God who looks to me with a telescope is not my God. I do not want him." "If there is a phenomenon of atheism today in the West as well as in Egypt, it is precisely because men say we are in fact better than God. The walk that I walk to help when I see a hungry person or a thirsty one or a person without faith, can't God do it? Has he no choice regarding his honor?" "No. He did it. This is the supreme proof of the Christian Mystery. Do not look somewhere else. 'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' He descended. No more seventh heaven..." "The only God I can believe, love and worship is the God Jesus Christ because he descended to me." "'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' " And the great preacher and Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad finished here his homily. Today, November 29, 2020, the well-known Biblical scholar and pastor of Holy Rosary parish in Toronto, Msgr. Robert Nusca gave a great homily that I found powerful especially about being alert in prayer and helping the needy. He also You mentioned Saint Padre Pio's words on the power of continuous prayer which we need to uphold. True, we must be alert, based on the Gospel, for the coming of the Lord. It is a source of joy that we are able to encounter the Lord in the Eucharistic banquet of Sunday. Yet, due to COVID-19, we are in lock-down and unable to physically participate in the Mass. However, with Cardinal Collins authorized permission, we participate spiritually in the body of Christ. Today also, at the Greek Melkite Catholic parish in Toronto, Msgr. Makarios Wehbe talked in his homily about the Gospel reading in the Byzantine Tradition; that is when a rich scholar asked Jesus " “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”. Msgr. Wehbe noted that, of the ten Commandments of the Law, Jesus mentioned the ones that deal with his neighbor - In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had said "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48). Applying it to the rich man, Jesus asked him to sell his rich material and follow the Master who later died on the cross for our sins. Our attachment to material things could detach us from the true Way i.e. Jesus (John 14:6). In his homily today, (in French here) Fr. Boulad spoke about reinvigorating the spirit of John the Baptist, the forrunner of Christ. He said that increasing exterior possessions and consumerism must be replaced by changing the interior of one's life - We can change the world for the better if we change our inner life which Christ invites us to. He baptizes us with with the Spirit and fire ! In his homily to the newly appointed cardinals, Pope Francis said that becoming a cardinal is a road sign "for us who today are journeying together with Jesus,” underscoring: “For He is our strength, who gives meaning to our lives and our ministry.” Finally, I received a number of responses on the video that I forwarded yesterday from a friend. Probably the most meaningful one is our need to be grateful to God who gave us life.

Bishop Gerard Bergie: The Joy in Christ of following the example of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Today November 25 is the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. As the early Church was persecuted in the first 3 centuries, many Christians suffered and were put to death since they refused to worship the Roman emperor but only Christ they worshiped. Catherine who lived in Alexandria, Egypt was terrorized for her faith but remained faithful. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximinus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, and immediately martyred. Maximinus had her scourged and imprisoned. The empress and the leader of the army of Maximinus were amazed by the stories, went to see Catherine in prison. They converted and were martyred. Maximinus ordered her broken on the wheel, but she touched it and the wheel was destroyed. She was beheaded, and her body whisked away by angels. She is buried in Mount Sinai in the Monastery that belongs to Greek Orthodox Christians. Bishop Gerard Bergie is Bishop of St. Catherine's in Canada. He celebrated Mass today and prayed for her intercession. In his homily, he spoke about the desire of everyone to live, especially in these hard times of COVID-19. Most of this applies to old and sick people. However, the fact that we can watch the Mass online means that we participate in the Mass spiritually even if we do not receive physically the Eucharist. He thanked everyone who helped prepare for the Mass and everyone who watched for their participation."Even though you do not come to church, the church comes to you" he said.St. Catherine is a model for us today, he said, since she kept her faith and trusted in God. This was an extraordinary welcoming message - Beautiful for every Cnristian who participate in the on-line Mass. The prayer for unity of the Cburch sounded beautiful. And above all, I could feel that I was participant in the Eucharist. Years ago, Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. said this "Jesus is a revelation. Jesus is a revolution" says the Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad. But what kind of revolution? "Jesus empties heaven and moves the [Divine presence] to be among us: Emmanuel." and continues "Is it possible that God makes such a radical move? I have a response here to our Muslim brothers who think it is impossible. For them God cannot descend from heaven without losing his honor and dignity." This was a homily by Fr. Boulad on Christmas in 2014 Now listen carefully because here Henri Boulad summarizes the Christian Mystery in as simple language as possible "If Jesus Christ is an illusion...If Christianity is a sheer mystification...If God did not come to us and did not descend from his heaven...If he did not take the radical and seemingly impossible leap of the incarnation, then he ceases being credible - he ceases being love - he ceases being God." Let us reflect. Here is the message: "The scandal of the Incarnation, which means that we cannot believe that God could debase himself , becomes the key and the supreme proof that this is the truth" "But a God in heaven well served who looks to me and says 'You suffer. Have courage. Perhaps one day you will be with me in my heaven' is not God. A God who says 'Patience. I am fine here but you over there can suffer' is not God. This is the false God that we, often, figure that he sends us prophets from time to time to console us' . NO, NO. NO. This God who looks to me with a telescope is not my God. I do not want him." "If there is a phenomenon of atheism today in the West as well as in Egypt, it is precisely because men say we are in fact better than God. The walk that I walk to help when I see a hungry person or a thirsty one or a person without faith, can't God do it? Has he no choice regarding his honor?" "No. He did it. This is the supreme proof of the Christian Mystery. Do not look somewhere else. 'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' He descended. No more seventh heaven..." "The only God I can believe, love and worship is the God Jesus Christ because he descended to me." "'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' " And the great preacher and Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad finished here his homily.

Pope Francis: Jesus Christ the King of the Universe - Holy Mass 22.11.2020

We have just heard the page of Matthew’s Gospel that comes immediately before the account of Christ’s Passion. Before pouring out his love for us on the cross, Jesus shares his final wishes. He tells us that the good we do to one of our least brothers and sisters – whether hungry or thirsty, a stranger, in need, sick or in prison – we do to him (cf. Mt 25:37-40). In this way, the Lord gives us his “gift list” for the eternal wedding feast he will share with us in heaven. Those gifts are the works of mercy that make our life eternal. Each of us can ask: Do I put these works into practice? Do I do anything for someone in need? Or do I do good only for my loved ones and my friends? Do I help someone who cannot give anything back to me? Am I the friend of a poor person? And there are many other similar questions we can ask ourselves. “There I am”, Jesus says to you, “I am waiting for you there, where you least think and perhaps may not even want to look: there, in the poor”. I am there, where the dominant thought, according to which life is going well if it goes well for me, does not find interesting. I am there. Jesus also says these words to you, young people, as you strive to realize your dreams in life. I am there. Jesus spoke these words centuries ago, to a young soldier. He was eighteen years old and not yet baptized. One day he saw a poor man who was begging people for help but received none, since “everyone walked by”. That young man, “seeing that others were not moved to compassion, understood that the poor person was there for him. However, he had nothing with him, only his uniform. He cut his cloak in two and gave half to the poor person, and was met with mocking laughter from some of the bystanders. The following night he had a dream: he saw Jesus, wearing the half of the cloak he had wrapped around the poor person, and he heard him say: ‘Martin, you covered me with this cloak’” (cf. Sulpicius Severus, Vita Martini, III). Saint Martin was that young man. He had that dream because, without knowing it, he had acted like the righteous in today’s Gospel. Dear young people, dear brothers and sisters, let us not give up on great dreams. Let us not settle only for what is necessary. The Lord does not want us to narrow our horizons or to remain parked on the roadside of life. He wants us to race boldly and joyfully towards lofty goals. We were not created to dream about vacations or the weekend, but to make God’s dreams come true in this world. God made us capable of dreaming, so that we could embrace the beauty of life. The works of mercy are the most beautiful works in life. They go right to the heart of our great dreams. If you are dreaming about real glory, not the glory of this passing world but the glory of God, this is the path to follow. Read today’s Gospel passage again and reflect on it. For the works of mercy give glory to God more than anything else. Listen carefully: the works of mercy give glory to God more than anything else. In the end we will be judged on the works of mercy. Yet how do we begin to make great dreams come true? With great choices. Today’s Gospel speaks to us about this as well. Indeed, at the last judgement, the Lord will judge us on the choices we have made. He seems almost not to judge, but merely to separate the sheep from the goats, whereas being good or evil depends on us. He only draws out the consequences of our choices, brings them to light and respects them. Life, we come to see, is a time for making robust, decisive, eternal choices. Trivial choices lead to a trivial life; great choices to a life of greatness. Indeed, we become what we choose, for better or for worse. If we choose to steal, we become thieves. If we choose to think of ourselves, we become self-centred. If we choose to hate, we become angry. If we choose to spend hours on a cell phone, we become addicted. Yet if we choose God, daily we grow in his love, and if we choose to love others, we find true happiness. Because the beauty of our choices depends on love. Remember this because it is true: the beauty of our choices depends on love. Jesus knows that if we are self-absorbed and indifferent, we remain paralyzed, but if we give ourselves to others, we become free. The Lord of life wants us to be full of life, and he tells us the secret of life: we come to possess it only by giving it away. This is a rule of life: we come to possess life, now and in eternity, only by giving it away. It is true that there are obstacles that can make our choices difficult: fear, insecurity, so many unanswered questions… Love, however, demands that we move beyond these, and not keep wondering why life is the way it is, and expecting answers to fall down from heaven. The answer has come: it is the gaze of the Father who loves us and who has sent us his Son. No, love pushes us to go beyond the why, and instead to ask for whom, to pass from asking, “Why am I alive?” to “For whom am I living?” From “Why is this happening to me?” to “Whom can I help?” For whom? Not just for myself! Life is already full of choices we make for ourselves: what to study, which friends to have, what home to buy, what interests or hobbies to pursue. We can waste years thinking about ourselves, without ever actually starting to love. Alessandro Manzoni offered a good piece of advice: “We ought to aim rather at doing well than being well: and thus we should come, in the end, to be even better” (I Promessi Sposi [The Betrothed], Chapter XXXVIII - 78). Not only doubts and questions can undermine great and generous choices, but many other obstacles as well every day. Feverish consumerism can overwhelm our hearts with superfluous things. An obsession with pleasure may seem the only way to escape problems, yet it simply postpones them. A fixation with our rights can lead us to neglect our responsibilities to others. Then, there is the great misunderstanding about love, which is more than powerful emotions, but primarily a gift, a choice and a sacrifice. The art of choosing well, especially today, means not seeking approval, not plunging into a consumerist mentality that discourages originality, and not giving into the cult of appearances. Choosing life means resisting the “throwaway culture” and the desire to have “everything now”, in order to direct our lives towards the goal of heaven, towards God’s dreams. To choose life is to live, and we were born to live, not just get by. A young man like yourselves, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, said this: “I want to live, not just get by”. Each day, in our heart, we face many choices. I would like to give you one last piece of advice to help train you to choose well. If we look within ourselves, we can see two very different questions arising. One asks, “What do I feel like doing?” This question often proves misleading, since it suggests that what really counts is thinking about ourselves and indulging in our wishes and impulses. The question that the Holy Spirit plants in our hearts is a very different one: not “What do you feel like doing?” but “What is best for you?” That is the choice we have to make daily: what do I feel like doing or what is best for me? This interior discernment can result either in frivolous choices or in decisions that shape our lives – it depends on us. Let us look to Jesus and ask him for the courage to choose what is best for us, to enable us to follow him in the way of love. And in this way to discover joy. To live, and not just get by. At the end of this Eucharistic celebration, I cordially greet all of you present and all those who join us through the media. A special greeting goes to the Panamanian and Portuguese young people, represented by the two delegations that will shortly take part in the significant ceremony of the passage of the Cross and the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, the symbols of the World Youth Days. This is an important step in the pilgrimage that will lead us to Lisbon in 2023. And as we prepare for the next intercontinental edition of WYD, I would also like to renew its celebration in the local Churches. Thirty-five years after the establishment of WYD, after listening to various opinions and consulting the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, which is responsible for youth ministry, I have decided, beginning next year, to transfer the diocesan celebration of WYD from Palm Sunday to Christ the King Sunday. The centre of the celebration remains the Mystery of Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Man, as Saint John Paul II, the initiator and patron of WYD, always emphasized. Dear young people, cry out with your life that Christ lives, that Christ reigns, that Christ is the Lord! If you keep silent, I tell you the very stones will cry out! (cf. Lk 19:40).

Daniel Callam - "The banners of the king come forth"

Fr. Daniel Callam; CSB responded to the post "Christian Hymns" with another traditional hymn Vexilla Regis Prodeunt ~ The banners of the king come forth - here. Quite a few other readers loved the traditional "Christian Hymns" including the pastor of a Lutheran congrgation in Toronto and her spouse Anita and Ivars Gaide as well as a dear reader.Since we are close to Advent which leads us to Christmas, it reminds us of the event of the Incarnation of the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary (John 1:1, Luke 2:6-14). To the Virgin Mary, Simeon said that her child would be set for the fall and rising of many in Israel (Luke 2:34) which indicated that the same Jews who celebrated Jesus entrance to Jerusalem would turn against him and crucify him. The Holy Week starts after the jubilation of Palm Sunday. In his commentary/sermon on a past Palm Sunday, Fr. Callam wrote: "VENANTIUS FORTUNATUS was an Italian who finished his life as bishop of Poitiers, France, having earlier served as chaplain to Queen Radegunde. She had retired from the world to live as a nun in a monastery near Poitiers. In A.D. 569 she obtained for the convent a fragment of the true cross, and Venantius Fortunatus wrote his famous hymn, Vexilla Regis, to welcome the relic. The hymn was in constant and ever-wider use for many centuries, but—although it can still be found in the Latin text of the liturgy—it has now been everywhere superseded by vernacular songs. There is always a price to be paid for a change, even one that many would consider an improvement, and we must regret the loss of this important fragment of our Tradition. It’s impossible to translate anything from one language to another, all the more so when Latin is to be rendered into English. Simply look at the different appearance of the two. The Latin is sober, majestic, lapidary, while the English looks fussy, with too many small words. It’s as if an oracle had given forth its solemn proclamation in Latin, and afterwards a nervous spokesman desperately searched for ways to convey the sublime message to the chattering devotees at the shrine. The reason for the difference is simple. Latin does not use definite or indefinite articles; there is no word for “the” or “a.” It also largely dispenses with prepositions; there is not one in the entire hymn. Consider the opening word, for instance. Vexilla is plural. It could be translated as “the banners” or merely “banners.” Similarly, “regis” means “of the king,” or perhaps “of a king.” The person listening to the hymn would have recognized an initial ambiguity in the wording. Was it “the banners of the king,” i.e., referring to a particular monarch, or “banners of a king,” i.e., any king? Of course, the second line resolves the matter, for we see that these banners adorn the cross. They have been unfurled to honour Christ, the King. That vexilla is a plural noun is also significant, and the connotations of this fact, again, defy translation. The singular—vexillum—was used of the standard that led a troop of the Roman army into battle, somewhat as regimental colours once functioned. The vexillum could also have been a red flag that was hoisted on the general’s tent as a signal for battle. By extension, vexillum came to signify the troop of soldiers that were fighting under that standard. That our King employs many standards—all those vexilla!—indicates not only that he has many troops, but also that warfare will be extensive and protracted. We are soldiers fighting under those banners, joined to our fellow Christians of the past and future. In the first verse the splendour of the opening two lines is contrasted with the grim reality of the following two. Fortunatus was here inspired by Saint John’s Gospel, in which Jesus says that he will be glorified by his ignominious death of the cross. “Now is the Son of Man glorified. . . . and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” The Latin word for “flesh” is caro, which here assumes two different forms: “carne,” which means “in the flesh” and carnis,” which means “of the flesh.” Hence carne carnis conditor is translated “the creator of flesh in the flesh,” certainly a cumbersome version of the elegant Latin alliterative phrase. “Flesh” here means, in the biblical usage, the human person—“My flesh will dwell in hope” —and is frequently used of man as corrupted by sin and in need of redemption—“God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” With typical compression, the Latin expresses in three words the fact that Jesus, as the pre-existent Word, was the agent of creation—“All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made” —including, of course, human beings and that he came in the likeness of sinful man to redeem him from his state of alienation from God. The second verse continues to contrast between the brutality of the crucifixion and its glorious effect. Christ’s body, pierced by the lance, release a flood that can clean the whole world of its sinfulness. Then we move into a poetic mode, in which the cross—made of course of wood—is compared to a tree bearing a wonderful burden. It is beautiful; it is special; it is blessed. We find here an echo of the messianic prophecy of Isaiah: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.” Our poet then compares the arms of the cross to the arms of a balance. It’s what is called a steelyard, i.e., a balance with a long arm by which a single counterweight can balance a heavy load. The heavy weight in this case would be the countless sins of mankind which have accumulated in what would seem to be a load so ponderous that nothing could lift it. But the single act of the God man on that long arm reaching across the centuries can easily raise the crushing burden off the shoulders of the human race. Verse five, which is the final one of the original hymn, presents the Gospel paradox in a fashion that has never ceased to move the hearts of believers across the ages, viz., that death is the source of life, and that death conquers death; the Prince of life now dead reigns alive. This is a sentiment that occurs and reoccurs in the solemn liturgies of Holy Week and Easter." Notes: Fr. Daniel Callam, C.S.B., was born in Amherstburg, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a honors B.A. in mathematics and physics, and later received an M.A. in mathematics from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Basil’s Seminary in Toronto, obtaining an M.A. in theology at the time of his ordination. Later he pursued graduate studies at Oxford University, graduating with a D.Phil in theology. For twenty years he was an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Saskatchewan, before moving to the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, where he taught theology and also served as chaplain of the University. For fifteen years he edited The Canadian Catholic Review which is published from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. On returning to Canada, he assumed the post of curate at Holy Rosary Parish in Toronto. Fr. Callam lives today at Presentation Manor in Toronto. 

Christian Hymns

Here are some of the top Christian hymns that I encountered online... Gregorian chant - Te Deum - Very impressive hymn to the Trinity in one God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_gcJc1MmCQ VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS - Giovanni Vianini - Very impressive hymn to the Holy Spirit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33XotuYs-io&t=43s Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Hymns (with Lyrics) - A great hymn in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament where Christ is present inm his humanity and Divinity under the Eucharistic form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-xJOGEcRLc Ave Maris Stella - A hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TacNIbmDZ4s The Litany of the Saints - A hymn that reminds us of the saints whose prayers help us... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb23Z5X3uhA&t=304s

A Christian Perspective on the Results of the American Presidential Elections

In early November 2020, EWTN published a report on the 10th anniversary of the visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Britain in which he beatified John Henry Newman; now a saint. My readers may wish to see the visit here. Both Benedict XVI and Saint John Henry Newman remind me of Christian Tradition and the "Development of Christian Doctrine" written by Saint John Henry Newman. Bishop Robert Barron spoke about the great work of Saint John Henry Newman here. There is a reason for thinking of Christian Tradition today since the American presidential elections have so far awarded the American presidency to the Democrat Joe Biden. The resutls are not final until the current Republican President Donald Trump announces acceptance of his defeat. However, Trump continues to challenge the official election results. His opponent Joe Biden was denied communion Sunday November 1st at a Catholic church in South Carolina over his support for abortion rights.Father Robert Morey, the pastor at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, told the Florence Morning News that he had denied Biden communion because "any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching." "Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church. Our actions should reflect that," Morey said in an email to the newspaper. He said that "as a priest, it is my responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to my care, and I must do so even in the most difficult situations. I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers." Trump, on the other hand, is credited for appointing pro-life Judge Amy Coney Barret to the Supreme Court in October 2020. His views are pro-life since he promised to act on it in the 2016 presidential elections. He effectively made abortion illegal in the United States. Melania, his devout Catholic wife, has influenced him in the way she regularly attends Mass, and prays the Rosary. Publicly she said the Lord's Prayer while he watched her and applauded the Catholic Church. While he did not allow Muslims from some Islamic countries to enter the United States, Trump claimed that he continued to assist Christian minorities and persecuted Christians in the Middle East. See this video here. On the political front: Accoring to the Associated Press, "The Trump administration threw the presidential transition into tumult, with President Donald Trump blocking government officials from cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden’s team and Attorney General William Barr authorizing the Justice Department to probe unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud. Some Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, rallied behind Trump’s efforts to fight the election results. Few in the GOP acknowledged Biden’s victory or condemned Trump’s other concerning move on Monday: his firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The developments cast doubt on whether the nation would witness the same kind of smooth transition of power that has long anchored its democracy. The Electoral College is slated to formally confirm Biden’s victory on Dec. 14, and the Democrat will be sworn into office in late January. On Monday, Barr authorized U.S. attorneys to probe “substantial” allegations of voter irregularities and election fraud... The North Korea Deal: Retrieved from the "RAND Corporation" article by Bruce Bennett published September 28, 2020 "The President viewed North Korea's nuclear weapons with their ballistic missile delivery means as a clear threat to the United States and its regional allies. The feverish pace of North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear weapon tests in 2017 demonstrated the North Korean capabilities, creating great regional anxiety. Throughout 2017, President Trump was clear that he would apply “maximum pressure” on North Korea, not even ruling out military action. Many in Northeast Asia and beyond feared that President Trump's actions could even lead to war. They recognized that North Korea had been very clear: for years the North had stated repeatedly that it would never give up its nuclear weapons. It was a surprise then in March 2018 when Kim Jong Un offered to negotiate the dismantlement of his nuclear weapons program. President Trump accepted this offer and held two summit meetings with Kim Jong Un. The President has chosen to emphasize a peaceful, personal relationship with Kim rather than resolving the North's mid- to long-term nuclear weapon threat.Which is to say that there has been no North Korean denuclearization. Quite the opposite: the North continues building nuclear weapons and has increased its capacity to do so. Satellite images indicate Pyongyang has been consistently developing its ballistic missile delivery capabilities, as well as the Kim regime's continued sanctions-skirting illicit activities to fund its weapons of mass destruction programs, and Pyongyang's statements articulating its resolve to bolster its nuclear deterrent. This is shocking in light of the April 2018 Panmunjom Declaration by Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon, part of which says that North and South Korea will fully implement all of their previous agreements and declarations. The previous 1992 South/North Denuclearization Declaration (PDF) is clear: “South and North Korea shall not test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy, or use nuclear weapons. South and North Korea shall use nuclear energy solely for peaceful purposes. South and North Korea shall not possess nuclear reprocessing and uranium enrichment facilities.…” Should there be any question, Kim said in his 2019 New Year's Address: “Accordingly, we declared at home and abroad that we would neither make and test nuclear weapons any longer nor use and proliferate them…” In the Middle East, there has been a few developments in pushing the U.S. interests... According to BBC, published on October 9 here, "The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on 18 "major" Iranian banks in one of the most extensive such moves by Washington against Tehran in months. The order will also penalise non-Iranian institutions trading with them, effectively cutting the banks off from the international financial system. The US says it is seeking to choke off Iran's access to funds to pursue what it regards as aggressive activities. Iran's UN ambassador accused the US of committing "economic terrorism". The latest punitive measure comes weeks after the US declared the return - or "snapback" - of UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted under a 2015 international deal over Iran's nuclear programme, accusing Tehran of having breached that agreement. Other members of the UN Security Council, however, are not in agreement with the US, saying Washington cannot trigger the snapback mechanism because it abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018." Trump also supported Egypt in its claims against Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam (read it in BBC's report here). As for China, after an intial cordial personal relationship between the U.S. Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping, both countries descended in a war of trade sanctions which culminated in the blame game over the coronavirus pandemic with President Trump calling it "The Chinese Virus" (see here). Despite Trump's childish tantrums, his pro-life stance making abortion illegal in America, the influence of his Catholic devout wife and his appreciation of the Church add to his credibility as a good Christian and president of the Superpower, the most important economic and political country in the world. Between Donald Trump and nominally-Catholic Joe Biden, I would choose Trump.

Christian Reflections on Movies

On November 5. 2020, I received this email from Magis Center founded by the Jesuit scholar Fr. Robert Spitzer (Can you find God in science? "Against the Tide," a new documentary featuring Dr. John Lennox, says you can. In theatres on Nov. 19, 20, and 23, "Against the Tide" is a new feature-length documentary on the life, work, and mission of legendary University of Oxford professor, mathematician, and philosopher Dr. John Lennox) - A trailer can be seen here. I am reminded by the review of movies made by another Catholic scholar, Fr. Daniel Callam; CSB in 2018. Fr. Callam wrote a book "A Catholic Goes to the Movies". He was interviewed by Catholic Focus here. In the interview Fr. Callam explains the moral reasons that drove him to watch and review the movies. This is how Catholic Focus presented it...(In the episode of Catholic Focus, Noel Ocol sits down with Basilian Theologian and movie critic Fr. Daniel Callam, C.S.B and talk about his book, "A Catholic Goes to the Movies". They also review some of the big block buster hits of the past years. Fr. Daniel Callam, C.S.B., was born in Amherstburg, Ontario. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the University of St. Michael’s College. After receiving his doctorate in theology from the University of Oxford, he was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Thomas More College in Saskatoon. He founded the Canadian Catholic Review, which he edited for fifteen years until 1997, when he was appointed to the faculty of theology at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, Texas. He returned to Canada in 2008, first to Holy Rosary Church, Toronto, and then to Cardinal Flahiff Centre) Fr. Callam lives today at Presentation Manor in Toronto. It is great to learn how Christian moral teachers provide insights in today's movies especially that some movies present violence and other immoral scenes.

Conservatives Vs. Liberals

In his General Audience on Wednesday November 4, 2020, Pope Francis said "I cordially greet the English-speaking faithful. In this month of November, let us pray especially for our deceased loved ones, and for all who have died, that the Lord in his mercy will welcome them to the banquet of eternal life. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you! In these days of prayer for the dead, we have recalled and still remember the help-in-waiting victims of terrorism, whose hardening of cruelty is spreading throughout Europe. I am thinking in particular of the serious attack in Nice in recent days on a place of worship and the attack the day before yesterday on the streets of Vienna, which caused dismay and resentment among the population and those who care about peace and dialogue. I entrust to God's mercy the tragically killed people and express my spiritual closeness to their families and to all those who suffer as a result of these deplorable events, who seek to compromise fraternal collaboration between religions through violence and hatred. Today is the liturgical memorial of St Charles Borromeo, a solicitous pastor, dedicated to the good of the people. I urge you to make your own that virtue that this great Archbishop of Milan chose as his motto: humilitas. Humility is the attitude with which you seek and serve truth and good. Finally, as usual, my thoughts turn to the elderly, young people, the sick and newlyweds. I encourage everyone to offer a sincere witness to the primacy of prayer in the lives of believers. Prayer is always a source of hope and consolation." TO BE CONTINUED

All Saints

Today, November 1st is the Solemnity of All Saints. The Holy Father Pope Francis spoke in his homily about becoming saints. Since the Gospel reading for today is that of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), he commented on 2 of them: "Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted" and "Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the land." How are those who mourn blessed? he asked, then replied: Those who persevere in their difficulties yet trust in God are blessed in eternal life. Pope Benedict XVI had interpreted "Blessed are they who mourn" in a deeper contemplation...He wrote "Let us go back to the second Beatitude: 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted' (Mt 5:4). Is it good to mourn and to declare mourning blessed? There are two kinds of mourning. The first is the kind that has lost hope, that has become mistrustful of love and of truth, and that therefore eats away and destroys man from within. But there is also the mourning occasioned by the shattering encounter with truth, which leads man to undergo conversion and to resist evil. This mourning heals, because it teaches man to hope and to love again. Judas is an example of the first kind of mourning: Struck with horror at his own fall, he no longer dares to hope and hangs himself in despair. Peter is an example of the second kind: Struck by the Lord’s gaze, he bursts into healing tears that plow up the soil of his soul. He begins anew and is himself renewed...He doesn't stop there. Benedict XVI wants to make sure we get it, so he digs back into the Old Testament: Ezekiel 9:4 offers us a striking testimony to how this positive kind of mourning can counteract the dominion of evil. Six men are charged with executing divine punishment on Jerusalem—on the land that is filled with bloodshed, on the city that is full of wickedness (cf. Ezek 9:9). Before they do, however, a man clothed in linen must trace the Hebrew letter tau (like the sign of the Cross) on the foreheads of all those “who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the city” (Ezek 9:4). Those who bear this mark are exempted from the punishment. They are people who do not run with the pack, who refuse to collude with the injustice that has become endemic, but who suffer under it instead. Even though it is not in their power to change the overall situation, they still counter the dominion of evil through the passive resistance of their suffering—through the mourning that sets bounds to the power of evil (Ratzinger, Joseph (2007-05-15). Jesus of Nazareth (pp. 86-87). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.). If you suffer today because of evil in the world, then you are in mourning. We Christians are in many battles these days. In some countries, it's not just a battle with immorality, but a battle that could end in the loss of life and other forms of physical suffering on top of the emotional and spiritual forms. "Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the land." In the encyclical Veritatis Splendor, Pope St. John Paul II addresses the beatitudes and calls the Sermon on the Mount the Magna Carta of Gospel morality. He writes: “The beatitudes are not specifically concerned with certain particular rules of behavior. Rather, they speak of basic attitudes and dispositions in life and therefore they do not coincide exactly with the commandments. On the other hand, there is no separation or opposition between the Beatitudes and the commandments: both refer to the good, to eternal life. The Sermon on the Mount begins with the proclamation of the Beatitudes, but also refers to the commandments (cf. Mt 5:20-48). At the same time, the Sermon on the Mount demonstrates the openness of the commandments and their orientation towards the horizon of the perfection proper to the Beatitudes. These latter are above all promises, from which there also indirectly flow normative indications for the moral life” — (No. 16). The second version of the sermon is in Matthew’s Gospel, where it covers three whole chapters (5-7). Here it is said to have been delivered “on the mountain,” the intent perhaps being to liken Christ to Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets of the law and presenting them to the people. The sermon has two parts: first a statement of broad moral principles, the beatitudes, then their application to particular issues, together with a brief treatise on prayer that includes the Our Father. The continuity between Moses and Jesus is crucial since Jesus’ moral doctrine by no means replaces the Ten Commandments. Rather, as Jesus himself says, he aimed “not to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Mt 5:17). Two persons of particular connection to us have been beatified in October 2020: Father Michael McGivney, a diocesan priest and founder of the very active charitable Catholic organization the Knights of Columbus - His beatification Mass can be seen here; and Carlo Acutis who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, but not before he had the chance to make an impact on this world. The Italian teenager was an example of holiness to those around him, and he used his computer skills to create an online database documenting eucharistic miracles. On Oct. 10 of this year, his beatification Mass was held in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. His beatification Mass can be seen here. Following the beatification of Carlo Acutis on Saturday October 10, Pope Francis invited young people to look to the late Italian teenager as a model of holiness. He also urged Catholics to take part in a Rosary campaign led by Aid to the Church in Need. See it here. On All Saints Day, Pope Francis spoke of the Blessed Virgin Mary "She is called Queen of heaven - She is the mother who directs humanity to her Son who reigns in his eternal kingdom"...Here the reader can see the November 01 2020 Angelus prayer with Pope Francis.

The Last Days before The Second Coming of Christ ?

Are we living in the last days/months before The Second Coming of Christ ? On October 26, 2020, The New York Times commented on a crime that took place on Friday October 16 - The New York Times wrote "For generations, public schools assimilated immigrant children into French society by instilling the nation’s ideals. The beheading of a teacher has raised doubts about whether that model still works. They could have easily shared the same classroom — the immigrant teenager and the veteran teacher known for his commitment to instilling the nation’s ideals, in a relationship that had turned waves of newcomers into French citizens. But Abdoullakh Anzorov, 18, who grew up in France from age 6 and was the product of its public schools, rejected those principles in a horrific crime that shocked and enraged France. Offended by cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad shown in a class on free speech given by the teacher, Samuel Paty, 47, the teenager beheaded him a week ago with a long knife before being gunned down by the police.France has paid national homage to Mr. Paty because the killing was seen as an attack on the very foundation — the teacher, the public school — of French citizenship. In the anger sweeping the nation, French leaders have promised to redouble their defense of a public educational system that plays an essential role in shaping national identity.The killing has underscored the increasing challenges to that system as France grows more racially and ethnically diverse. Two or three generations of newcomers have now struggled to integrate into French society, the political establishment agrees. But the nation, broadly, has balked at the suggestion from critics, many in the Muslim community, that France’s model of integration, including its schools, needs an update or an overhaul. President Emmanuel Macron’s emphatic defense of the caricatures has also led to ripples overseas. Several Muslim nations, including Kuwait and Qatar, have begun boycotting French goods in protest. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey questioned Mr. Macron’s mental health in a speech, prompting France to recall its ambassador to Turkey." On October 29, 2020, another crime took place in France. This time in Nice...BBC commented "Three people have died in a knife attack at a church in Nice, in what French President Emmanuel Macron said was an 'Islamist terrorist attack'. He said France would not surrender its core values after visiting the Notre-Dame basilica in the southern city. An extra 4,000 troops are being deployed to protect churches and schools. In Nice, one elderly victim was "virtually beheaded", officials said. Another woman and a man also died. A male suspect was shot and detained. Anti-terror prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attack and France has raised its national security alert to its highest level. French anti-terrorist prosecutor Jean-François Ricard later said the attacker was seriously wounded by police. Mr Ricard said the suspect was a 21-year-old Tunisian national who had arrived in France earlier this month. He had a document issued by the Italian Red Cross. Police sources earlier named the attacker as Brahim Aioussaoi. They said he had travelled by boat from Tunisia to the Italian island of Lampedusa in September. He was placed in coronavirus quarantine there before being released and told to leave Italy. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi spoke of "Islamo-fascism" and said the suspect had "repeated endlessly 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest)". Two other attacks took place on Thursday, one in France and one in Saudi Arabia. A man was shot dead in Montfavet near the southern French city of Avignon after threatening police with a handgun. A guard was attacked outside the French consulate in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. A suspect was arrested and the guard taken to hospital.Speaking after visiting Nice, President Macron said: 'If we are attacked once again it is for the values which are ours: freedom, for the possibility on our soil to believe freely and not to give in to any spirit of terror." More commentaries came from the pen of Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar in Egypt:"As a Muslim and the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, I declare that Islam, its teachings and its Prophet are innocent of this wicked terrorist crime," Tayeb said in his speech, referring to the beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty on Friday."At the same time, I emphasize that insulting religions and attacking their sacred symbols under the banner of freedom of expression is an intellectual double standard and an open invitation to hatred. This terrorist (who decapitated Pati) doesn't speak for the religion of the Prophet Mohammed any more than the terrorist in New Zealand who killed Muslims in the mosque spoke for the religion of Jesus," Tayeb said in his speech. The Grand Imam does not waste a minute without criticizing the West and its social norms...On January 28, 2020, in the World Conference on Islam at the University of Cairo, he complained that Islamic Sharia and Sunna have lost their space in the entire world due to American and European powers that control Muslim countries since the French came to Egypt near the end of the 18th century - The last Islamic Sharia was that of the Ottoman empire (see it here in Arabic) I am reminded by words of inspiration on Jesus "the Word of God" - In view of the above Islamic terrorist attacks, let us listen to the Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad on "the revolution of Jesus" some years ago. "Jesus is a revelation. Jesus is a revolution" says the Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad. But what kind of revolution? "Jesus empties heaven and moves the [Divine presence] to be among us: Emmanuel." and continues "Is it possible that God makes such a radical move? I have a response here to our Muslim brothers who think it is impossible. For them God cannot descend from heaven without losing his honor and dignity." Now listen carefully because here Henri Boulad summarizes the Christian Mystery in as simple language as possible "If Jesus Christ is an illusion...If Christianity is a sheer mystification...If God did not come to us and did not descend from his heaven...If he did not take the radical and seemingly impossible leap of the incarnation, then he ceases being credible - he ceases being love - he ceases being God." Let us reflect. Here is the message: "The scandal of the Incarnation, which means that we cannot believe that God could debase himself , becomes the key and the supreme proof that this is the truth" "But a God in heaven well served who looks to me and says 'You suffer. Have courage. Perhaps one day you will be with me in my heaven' is not God. A God who says 'Patience. I am fine here but you over there can suffer' is not God. This is the false God that we, often, figure that he sends us prophets from time to time to console us' . NO, NO. NO. This God who looks to me with a telescope is not my God. I do not want him." "If there is a phenomenon of atheism today in the West as well as in Egypt, it is precisely because men say we are in fact better than God. The walk that I walk to help when I see a hungry person or a thirsty one or a person without faith, can't God do it? Has he no choice regarding his honor?" "No. He did it. This is the supreme proof of the Christian Mystery. Do not look somewhere else. 'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' He descended. No more seventh heaven..." "The only God I can believe, love and worship is the God Jesus Christ because he descended to me." "'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' " And the great preacher and Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad finished here his homily. In a recent on-line discussion in Arabic between Brother Rashid; a convert from Islam to Christianity and Dr. Wafaa Sultan; a psychiatrist and thinker originally from Syria; they agreed that Islam is in crisis - Dr. Sultan identified the reasons why Muslims are today in crisis (here in Arabic) It is evident that Islam is in crisis... See this brief text commenting on the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse: Can we read the beginning of the end in today's events? We know that, according to modern Biblical scholarship, the book of Revelation was written in the late 90s, as Apocalyptic literature to warn Christians and give them hope in the persecutions of the 1st century. Having said that, let's look afresh at Revelation and see whether there can be any interpretation for our world today as well. Sometimes the same text can reflect a myth and a literal event too. Can this be the case here? The New American Bible Revised Edition (approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) in the introduction to the Book of Revelation says "The Book of Revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for Christians of all time. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all Christians are called to trust in Jesus' promise, 'Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age' (Matthew 28:20)" Revelation is a complex book, so I intend only to show similarities from the Book to what we are seeing today. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there are 5 important symbolic figures: The Lamb, the woman, and her seed; and opposed to them, the dragon, the beast from the sea, and the beast from the land. Scholars dig deep into the Old Testament: The main idea is taken from Genesis 3:15. "I will put enmities between you (the serpent) and the woman, and your seed and her seed". The woman is arrayed in heavenly splendour; a crown of twelve stars on her head and the sun and the moon under her feet (cf. Genesis 37:9-10). She is in travail. Her first-born is destined to rule all the nation (Psalms 2:8, 9). She herself, and her other seed, are persecuted for three and a half years by the great dragon who tries to kill them. The great dragon is Satan (Genesis 3:1). He is cast out of heaven. With his tail he drags after him one-third of the stars. Taken from Daniel 8:10. The fallen stars are the fallen angels. The beast from the sea is in great part taken from Daniel's description of the four beasts (Daniel 7). It arises from the sea; has seven heads marked all over with blasphemies (probably a reference to Rome - City of the Seven Hills, called also Babylon or the Harlot in the New Testament since at the time it was the center of evil and idolatry for Christians). It had also ten horns, like the fourth beast of Daniel; it resembled a leopard, the third beast of Daniel, it had feet like a bear, the second beast of Daniel; and teeth like a lion, the first beast of Daniel. The great dragon gives full power to the beast, where all the world will worship it. The followers of the beast have its mark on their head and hand. The beast from the land has two horns like a ram. Its power lies in its art of deceiving by means of tokens and miracles. Throughout the remainder of the book it is called the false prophet. Its office is to assist the beast from the sea, and to induce people to adore its image. The first act of the drama concludes with a promise of victory over the beast by the Lamb of God. We can safely see in the woman Mary immaculate whose seed is Jesus the Lamb of God. Other interpretations think of it as a symbol of the Church in her suffering and ultimate glory. The drama completes when the "New Jerusalem" is founded. She will need no light because the Father and the Lamb will be her light - the light of the Holy Spirit. A great number of people; thousands over thousands will be in the triumphant city. Meanwhile let's attempt to follow the visionary. We can see in the Dragon the Devil. But who are the Beast and the False Prophet? The New Jerome Biblical Commentary in 1990 gives a contemporary interpretation pointing out that the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth have both mythic and historical references. Sea in the Old Testament is an opponent of God (Cf. Ps. 74:13). In Revelation, the beast from the sea is a mythical symbol of chaos and rebellion. The beast from the earth (13:11-18) is also a counter image to the Lamb. The beast from the earth is described as a false prophet, probably an agent of the Roman empire who promoted the cult of the emperor and the goddess Roma. The following is my own interpretation based on my readings, but mostly based on what we are seeing today. I think, and I stand to be corrected, that the False Prophet is Radical Islam and the Beast is the materialist postmodern world of the West. We can consult the "Clash of Civilizations" that Samuel Huntington wrote in the 1990s, although this is not necessary. The False Prophet: From a historic perspective, I do note that the human race was warned in 1917 by Our Lady at Fatima and that the "Third Secret of Fatima" was officially interpreted as the assassination attempt on the life of Saint Pope John Paul the Great. But may be that attempt was only the first of calamities that humanity will have to suffer as the sons and daughters of Abraham, Jews and Muslims, fight to death. Recall also that for 60 years now, Israel is back as one Jewish nation, and since 1967 it has reoccupied Jerusalem thus fulfilling the prophecy of the end of time attributed to Christ "and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Luke 21: 24). Furthermore, we can go back to the early 1930s and find the established "Muslim Brotherhood" which claims support from Muslims worldwide. But two centuries earlier Mohammed Ibn Abdel-Wahhab had preached a puritan form of Islam that forbids devotional customs such as shrines for saints and visitation of tombs. He and his followers made a pact with Mohammed bin Saud whose successors prevailed in Arabia and were given the land by the British after World War I. Today Saudi Arabia, a rich Arab Sunni Muslim country, exports the Wahabbi/Salafist thought (with oil from its oil reserves) to other countries in the world and has its own agenda as a regional power. In addition since 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been tirelessly exporting its strict Shiite doctrine to the entire Islamic world. In 1972, President Sadat released Muslim extremists from jail and was subsequently assassinated by one of their groups in 1981. By 1982, the motto "Islam is the Solution" had appeared in Egypt. It is no accident that the revival of fundamentalist Islam has spread in all the Arab world and the Muslim nations in spite of persecution by governments loyal to the West. From Sudan, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India there is a huge following of fundamentalist Muslims. There have been incidents of fundamentalist rebellion in the Philippines (Abu Sayyaf). This is only a general picture. Now, I would like to give some details: Although many people are driven to think that this is a Western propaganda and political conflict, I believe that the Vatican would not have protested repeatedly in recent years against persecution and killing of Christians in Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, India, Algeria, and Egypt unless there was ground for such violation of human freedom and dignity. Fundamentalist Islam today, spreading in Europe at a huge rate of 230%, is one of the major forces that Western Europe had to deal with since 9/11 and is still unable to contain. The late Libyan leader Qaddafi was quoted to have said in 2007 that by 2050 Europe will be completely Muslim. Huge money is spent on building mosques and Islamic schools and supporting Muslim organizations in the entire world. Financing is coming from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar. Add to this the violent character of such organizations as Hamas, governing Gaza in Palestine and until now refusing to recognize the right of Israel to exist, and Hizbullah which has a majority support in Lebanon since its victory over Israel in 2006. Iran, another regional power hopeful and opposed to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, is attempting to build its nuclear power and its leaders have vowed to extinguish Israel. Is this enough for describing a false prophet? The Beast: This is the great desolation of Western civilization. If I have to explain it in detail it will take me a full week. Just briefly: It started with the Reformation in the 16th century. Martin Luther thought that every individual Christian is free to interpret Scriptures according to what he feels the Holy Spirit is telling him. This idea created "individualism." Individualism is rampant today, thanks to other modern philosophers such as the existentialist Sartre. Only me counts. "The other is my hell." It is interesting to note how this has been applied successfully in contemporary thought and technology too. Nothing is done in a vacuum. One thing you must understand is that we are all related in this cosmos. Following Luther in interpreting St.Paul, Calvin thought that God predestined people as he willed to heaven or hell so if they were destined to heaven they will also be blessed here on earth. John Courtney Murray, S.J. who was the main contributor to Vatican II's "Declaration on Freedom of Religion" wrote how Calvinism re-emerged in North-America. Calvinism was brought by the early Europeans to America. In simple terms, if I am blessed here as a Christian, I would rather use all the resources available to me to realize this blessing on earth as much and as wide as possible. This is greed in the form of Capitalism. Sure I will help the needy but I will also help myself much more from what they have. The earth is mine and I will explore its richness to the end! Today, Capitalism rules the earth. Free market enslaves people. Recall the political and economic pressure by the IMF on the underdeveloped countries to free their economy in the 1980s and 1990s. What is the global pandemic but the result of that biological war between China and America? Since the Enlightenment in the 19th century West, philosophers and scientists have been asking whether there is indeed any reality beyond matter. Some great materialist/atheist philosophers include Hume, Voltaire, Marx, Carnap, Wittgenstein, Derrida, Michel Foucault and many others. The "New Atheists" of today such as Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss are scientists who devote much time attacking religion because they constrain their research to what is observable in the cosmos. In schools today, our children learn mostly what constitutes physics but very little, if any, about metaphysics (i.e. beyond physics). Today we see how our consumerist society has invested in this ideology. Businesses flourish based on selling products to consumers. The more we consume the more business flourishes. This is the child of materialism married to capitalism. With globalization in the 1980s-1990s and beyond, large businesses and huge investors were able to reach the entire globe. Europe and the Far East imitated America and did the same. Who paid the price? Ordinary people like you and me. Materialism also bore the ideology of Communism which was carried out in Russia and persecuted religion from 1917 to 1989 in the USSR and Eastern Europe. Today Communism still lives in political pockets in Europe and is widely known under a more moderate name as socialism. Communism robbed people of their rights to private property. People became enslaved to the government of their land. It engulfed a whole generation of thinkers, even within the Church particularly in Latin America where people remain quite poor. Capitalist America supported dictatorial regimes in Latin America in order to suppress these movements. Another twist of the moral order took place in the two World Wars. Because many men were sent to the battlefield women were forced to work in order to support their families. The radical feminist ideology was born in the early 1920s and grew quickly in the 1940s and 1950s. Women started building their own career like men. Equality with men, not in dignity as known in traditional Christianity, but in all aspects of roles in business as well as at home was furiously demanded. This started the collapse of the family as we know it. Today we know many men and women who are, contrary to the moral Law, legally divorced. The feminist movement also produced legalization of abortion as the right of woman according to the land's law has a priority over the existence of the fetus in her womb. The Western civilization lost millions of unborn babies in this genocide. By the 1960s the sexual revolution was in the making, this time freeing people from the sex complex as defined by Freud. Soon afterwards, it became common that young people practice their intimate sexual "love" in the public with no shame. Today we know of couples who live together a life of sexual promiscuity and adultery without marriage or within marriage by prior agreement. The last evil came under the influence of the philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (died 1900). The ideology is known as Moral Relativism: Nietzsche sees the slave-morality as a social illness that has overtaken Europe — a derivative and resentful value which can only work by condemning others as evil. In Nietzsche's eyes, Christianity exists in a hypocritical state wherein people preach love and kindness but find their joy in condemning and punishing others for pursuing those ends which the slave-morality does not allow them to act upon publicly. Nietzsche calls for the strong in the world to break their self-imposed chains and assert their own power, health, and vitality upon the world. In Relativism (called also Postmodernism), everyone is right. There is no absolute right and absolute wrong. This helps political correctness in the pluralistic world of today. In my humble opinion, we need to pay attention to the present, learn lessons from the past, and pray for the future. We seem to have lost our way between the False Prophet (Radical Islam) and the Beast (Western Civilization). There is a tremendous thirst in the young generations for spiritual nourishment that gives meaning to their lives. Let us focus on those ones for their deprivation of spiritual nourishment leads them to emptiness and depression which in turn cause suicide or worse they could join the extremist Jihadists (as we already see in Europe) and we end up having a crazy army of terrorists killing themselves and us in the name of God as prophesied "children will rise against parents and have them put to death"(Matthew 10:21). Churches are "not museums" according to Saint Pope John XXIII. They must be the light for nourishment of Christians, notably the young and (almost) lost generations, in everything that they need to learn to live spiritually and survive materially i.e. to develop in their knowledge and love of God and of others.Virtual websites for Church activities and online social networking need to be developed for those who are far. But more prayers are needed to save the civilization of the West from destroying itself internally. This is the harder one. We believe in what the Saviour said 'Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age' (Matthew 28:20). If it is true that the above is a war between Islam and the world; If COVID-19 continues to cause much suffering, and distancing between people physically; If every business work is being gradually replaced by artificial intelligence and on-line tools thus virtually taking over human work; If Pope Francis calls for boundryless nations and one government of brothers and sisters...; If families have stopped procreation since the husband and wife are too busy, or are spending more than their income; If the Church approves of homosexual unions... If atheism increases as young men and women no longer believe in religion... What then is left for the new and young human generations ? Is it the beginning of the end of history ? Are we living in the last days/months before the Second Coming of Christ? Let us hope that humanity will continue to breed and worship God, and that people will attempt help each other in order to live ...