Forgiveness and the Example of St. Peter

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A great many articles of the Christian Faith are difficult to understand. We confess many of these things simply to be mysteries – concepts beyond the scope and privy of the human mind. One could make great lists of all the mysteries beyond reason, but let us consider briefly a few.

The two natures of Christ is a great and mysterious subject within the hallowed halls of theology. In one person coexists 100% God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and 100% Man, born of the Virgin Mary. The two are not mixed into some third peculiar substance, but neither are they completely untouched by each other, as though merely two boards glued to each other. How did God become Man? How does the divine nature relate to the human nature? These are questions which have sprouted some of the most despicable heresies in history, but to which there is no real answer – only confession of the reality revealed in Scripture.

My Fellow Imitators

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” St. Paul exhorts the faithful congregation in Philippi in this way to follow the pattern of the Christian life which He has taught them, and which they have learned by the example of the apostle and others leading them in the Faith.

He says “Join in imitating me”. That is, literally, “become my fellow imitators”. St. Paul exhorts the Philippians to imitate not just him, but with him to imitate our Lord Christ. For who is Paul? An apostle, called by God, yes. But Paul is just a man, like you and like any other man on earth. He is a sinner, with faults and failings, evil desires and inability to keep even the smallest of the Law's demands.

"I AM" - For You!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.”

Jesus knows all things, creates all things, redeems all things. And, knowing all things that would happen to Him, steps forward, that there be no doubt, if there ever were any, as to His identity as the one who was destined to suffer at the hands of this angry mob.

But let us stop and consider who this is of whom St. John speaks. The mob seeks Jesus of Nazareth, and they find Him, but what does that mean for you? Let us consider who this is, of what sort or how great He is, and finally why He would suffer so.

The Lord and His Offerings

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.

Each year, as we begin this season of Lent, as we mark the occasion called Ash Wednesday, the Church hears again the words of the prophet Joel, calling the people of God to repentance and faith in the Lord God of Israel.

Such is the portrait of repentance the Holy Scriptures teach you. Return to the Lord with all your heart. Rend your heart, and not your garments. Be broken inside, where the Lord sees and knows what is in your heart.

IfWeCanJust

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Success is a goal often discussed, but not often achieved, at least depending on your standards of success. Browse the self-help section of any major bookstore, and you will see this high and lofty goal discussed in all sorts of terms, depending on what you want your life to be like. But what does it look like? And what does it take to get there?

For one thing, success is a moving target, and it fades quickly, as the next guy in line achieves more success than you, so you have to go out and succeed some more. Consider this: how many people on the street do you think can name the quarterbacks who led last year's Super Bowl teams? They were showered in praise and glory, being at the pinnacle of their profession, and now what? We derive amusement from “where are they now” sorts of reality shows.

"When You Say You Love Me"

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Several years ago, a pop song came out, entitled “When You Say You Love Me”. Over the course of several verses and a refrain, the singer muses about all the wonderful things that happen when his beloved says “I love you.” The world seems to stand still, he feels lighter than air, and all that sort of mushy stuff. Finally, the in last couplet of the song, the singer asks, “When you say you love me / Do you know how much I love you too?”

How wonderful love is, at least when you listen to love songs on the radio and read how the romantic poets wax on about all the joys and beauties and wonders of love. Love makes people do all sorts of funny things. Untold scores of people have been killed for the sake of love. Wars have been launched for the sake of love. The stories of the stupid things a boy will do for a girl litter the internet and the history books. And on the other hand, people will sacrifice themselves wholeheartedly for the sake of those they love.