Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Homily on the Wedding Feast at Cana - 1/17/2010
Homily given by Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God on January 17, 2010 on the account of the wedding feast at Cana from the Gospel of John.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
EPIPHANY
Originally posted on 1/6/2009
JMJ+OBT
Christ has appeared to us; come, let us adore Him!
EPIPHANY means appearance or manifestation. THE EPIPHANY is the appearance or manifestation of God in Jesus Christ who is the Eternal Word, God Himself, who in the fullness of time became man for us. The invisible God becomes visible to us to reveal God's Infinite Love for us. When we embrace this EPIPHANY our hearts leap for joy.
The three wise men were led by the star of Bethlehem to the manger where the Divine Child lay and Our Lady helped them recognize the human face of God and the Divine face of man in Jesus Christ. The star rose in the sky and the hope of the wise men rose within them as faith told them that their deepest longings would be fulfilled if they acted on the faith that arose in them with the rising of the star. The wise men were wise enough to be attentive to the signs of the presence of God. They showed their true wisdom by acting on their faith.
Wisdom is demonstrated when one lives a life of faith in God and acts on their faith in love of God and love of neighbor. Wisdom is demonstrated when one is willing to leave the earthly "kingdoms" we think we have established or belong to, and follow a path of faith, hope and charity to come to the Kingdom of God.
It is clear that God exists. Every rational and reasonable person must admit that there is a God. There is the Unmoved Mover Who is the One God. There is the Uncaused Cause Who is the One God. There is the Necessary Being Who is the One God. There is the Governor of the Universe Who is the One God. There is the Highest Perfection Who is the One God. Let us then ask for the light of faith to find the One True God Who is the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
THE EPIPHANY of God made man in Jesus Christ is our joy. Come to Him, adore Him, and be transformed by Him. Let nothing stop you from finding Jesus and following Jesus. There will be opposition from the devil, the flesh and the world, but we have the victory over all our enemies when we live and move and have our being in Jesus Christ. Follow the light of faith and learn from Our Lady how to say "yes" to Jesus. Our Blessed Mother is the woman of faith and the Star of the New Evangelization. Ask her to help you recognize Jesus in the many EPIPHANIES of life. Ask her to help you grow in your faith and share your faith so that others may have an EPIPHANY.
The light of faith is brighter than the Star of Bethlehem. We walk by faith, not by sight, to come to the joys of the Everlasting Kingdom of God. We act on our faith and come to behold the King of kings and the Lord of lords in Jesus Christ. We behold Jesus, Our King, with the eyes of Mary, Our Blessed Mother, and learn to adore, worship and give the total gift of ourselves to Jesus. Just as the wise men gave the costliest gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, we give the gift most pleasing to God which is the gift of ourselves through obedience to God and the Catholic Church He established in His blood.
May this new calendar year bring you many blessings. May God smile upon you and show His face to you. May the EPIPHANY of God's real, true and substantial presence in the Most Holy Eucharist bring you joy, peace and the strength to build a world of peace by implementing the Holy Father's World Peace Message found at: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081208_xlii-world-day-peace_en.html
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Through the intercession of Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John, St. James, St. Therese, St. Rita, St. Philomena, St. Jude, St. Nicholas, St. Alphonsus, St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Zachary, St. Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist, St. Perpetua, St. Felicity, St. Francis, St. Veronica Guiliani, St. Joan of Arc, St. Louis, St. Joseph Calasanz, St. Padre Pio, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, St. Columban and all the Holy Angels and Saints may you be abundantly blessed in the Covenant of Communion of the Most Holy Trinity, with my Priestly blessing,
Father Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT
Monday, January 4, 2010
Epiphany Homily - January 3, 2010
Homily given by Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 3, 2010.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Homily - 12/25/2009
Homily given by Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God on Christmas morning, 2009.
Friday, December 25, 2009
CHRISTMAS IS ETERNAL
Originally posted on 12/26/2008
JMJ+OBT
Omnia Pro Iesu Per Mariam!
CHRISTMAS IS ETERNAL! God, from all Eternity chose to give the gift of Himself, in Jesus, to all of mankind. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON, and the season becomes eternal in the gift of Jesus. Open yourself to receive the gift of Jesus and share the gift of Jesus with all. The good news is that God's giving of Jesus is eternal, and we can receive Jesus eternally.
Remember to be thankful for your gifts. Remember to share your gifts. Every good parent wants their children to be thankful to the giver of the gifts, and every good parent wants their children to share their gifts. God who is Goodness Himself, desires that we, His beloved children, remain thankful for the gift of Jesus and share the gift of Jesus. We show our thanks in word and deed. We are to live the life of Jesus that we receive as a Divine Gift of Divine Love.
We are to share the gift of Jesus just as Our Heavenly Father shares the gift of Himself in His Only Begotten Son. We are to share the gift of Jesus just as Jesus shares Himself and gives us everything the Father has given Him. We are to share the gift of Jesus just as the Holy Spirit, Person-Gift and Person-Love, shares Himself and gives us the Spirit of the Father and the Son.
God's sharing of His Divine Life is the Christmas gift given to us at Christmas in Jesus. It is God's Plan from all eternity that we share in His Divine Life. It is also God's Plan that we share the Divine Life we have received with others. SIMPLY PUT, WE RECEIVE THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OF JESUS AND SHARE THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OF JESUS WITH ALL.
Christmas is not complete until Jesus is born into the lives of all mankind. CHRISTMAS IS FOR ALL! Christmas is for Catholics and our Christian brothers and sisters. Christmas is for Jews. Christmas is for Muslims. Christmas is for Hindus. Christmas is for Buddhists. Christmas is for Taoists. Christmas is for Agnostics. Christmas is for Atheists. CHRISTMAS IS FOR ALL WHEN WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS AND SHARE THE GIFT OF JESUS!
Remember everyone was created to receive the gift of Jesus. Remember everyone longs, deep within, for the gift of Jesus. Help everyone receive the gift of Jesus. Learn from the manger scene how people were drawn to Jesus. Learn from the Holy Virgin Mary and St. Joseph how to share the gift of Jesus.
CHRISTMAS IS ETERNAL! We were created to receive the gift of Jesus. We were created to give the gift of Jesus. LET ALL ENTER INTO THE ETERNAL GIFT OF CHRIST SO THAT THE ETERNAL DAY OF CHRIST BRINGS THE LIGHT, HAPPINESS, PEACE AND JOY THAT IS GOD'S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO HIS CHILDREN.
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Through the intercession of Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John, St. James, St. Therese, St. Rita, St. Philomena, St. Jude, St. Nicholas, St. Alphonsus, St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Zachary, St. Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist, St. Perpetua, St. Felicity, St. Francis, St. Veronica Guiliani, St. Joan of Arc, St. Louis, St. Joseph Calasanz, St. Padre Pio, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, St. Columban and all the Holy Angels and Saints may you be abundantly blessed in the Covenant of Communion of the Most Holy Trinity, with my Priestly blessing,
Father Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT
Sunday, December 20, 2009
GOD IS KNOCKING
Originally posted on 12/22/2008
JMJ+OBT
Omnia Pro Iesu Per Mariam!
GOD IS KNOCKING on the door of your heart. Jesus, True God and True Man, is about to be born for us in a new and profound way THIS CHRISTMAS. Are you going to let Him enter the door of your heart or is there no room at the inn? Today, is just like 2008 years ago. There are those who are prepared to receive Jesus, and these will be blessed this Christmas. Then there are those who are too busy with their own affairs or the affairs of the world, and these will cry there is no room at the inn.
GOD IS KNOCKING on the door of your heart. He wants to enter your heart, soul, mind, body, life, family and community. However, He will never force Himself upon you or others. We see this in the Annunciation and Incarnation of Christ (St. Luke's Gospel 1:26-38). The Angel Gabriel appears to the Blessed Virgin Mary and announces the Divine Plan of God that Mary would become the Mother of God and the Word would become flesh and dwell among us. The Angel Gabriel, sent from God, awaits Our Blessed Mother's response. God desires to give the greatest gift to mankind, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. However, God will not force Himself upon us. He will not give the great gift of Himself without our consent.
GOD IS KNOCKING on the door of your heart. Let Him enter and bring great blessings to your life and those you love. You only need to say "YES" or "FIAT" like Our Blessed Mother. Of course, you need to mean it! Humble yourself, like Our Lady, and with the eyes of faith see Jesus coming to you. The Plan of God has been announced to you in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. Believe and receive the great gift of Jesus this Christmas.
GOD IS KNOCKING on the door of your heart. Learn from Mary, the Mother of God, to open yourself to the Plan of God. Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (the House of Bread, the Most Holy Eucharist) with St. Joseph and Our Lady with Jesus in the womb. See the wonders of God coming forth in this journey. See with the eyes of St. Joseph and Our Blessed Mother. Contemplate the goodness of God and enter into the mystery of Divine Love. Prayerfully prepare to receive Jesus.
GOD IS KNOCKING on the door of your heart. This fourth Sunday of the Holy Season of Advent, known as "Angelus Sunday" is a gift to remind us to immediately prepare for the entry of Christ into our lives this Christmas. Pray the Angelus and think about Who you are saying "YES" to and that your "YES" is to the fullness of the mystery of Christ. Think about how the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary (which you should pray everyday) are contained in the closing prayer of the Angelus. PRAY AND PREPARE TO PLEASE JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH as the HOLY FAMILY looks for room at the inn of your heart and the hearts of those you love.
PRAY THE ANGELUS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT and ask the HOLY SPIRIT to come upon you as you UNITE YOURSELF WITH OUR LADY saying "FIAT" to the Plan of God. Here is the Angelus (traditionally prayed at 6 a.m., 12 noon, and 6 p.m.):
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit...Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word...Hail Mary....
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us...Hail Mary....
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
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Through the intercession of Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John, St. James, St. Therese, St. Rita, St. Philomena, St. Jude, St. Nicholas, St. Alphonsus, St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Zachary, St. Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist, St. Perpetua, St. Felicity, St. Francis, St. Veronica Guiliani, St. Joan of Arc, St. Louis, St. Joseph Calasanz, St. Padre Pio, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, St. Columban and all the Holy Angels and Saints may you be abundantly blessed in the Covenant of Communion of the Most Holy Trinity, with my Priestly blessing,
Father Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT
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