In the Gospel reading for this Sunday Jesus says, “Do not let others intimidate you.” He tells us to keep our priorities straight. He tells us that we shouldn’t even be afraid of people who could kill us when we stand for his truth. «Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the soul.” In one of the most beautiful passages in the New Testament Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for next to nothing? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted; so do not be afraid of anything. You are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows.” The Lord also says in that passage, “Fear Him who can throw body and soul into Gehenna.” This is not a popular concept in our society. We have emphasized God’s compassion and mercy, and this is good. But we tend to refuse to acknowledge his justice. In our minds we have transformed God into a sort of Barney figure that will not respond to our rejection of his life and laws. So a man commits adultery, leaves his wife and children, and then says, “God understands.” Well maybe the “Barney God” of his imagination might forgive, but the real God who was present when marriage vows were made and who sees the turmoil a selfish man has thrust upon a good wife and beautiful children, his family, maybe the Just God has to consider justice as well as mercy. If we sin but refuse to acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness, we are, in effect, denigrating God. This reminds me of the old movie, Dead Man Walking, with Susan Sarandan and Sean Penn. That was the true story about a nun, Sr. Helen Prejean, ministering to a man on death row, Matthew Poncelet. The climax of the movie came when the man refused to acknowledge his crime, but said instead, “I know God loves me and forgives me.” Sister responded, something to the effect, “You cannot presume God’s mercy when you refuse to acknowledge your sinfulness and seek the forgiveness both of God and of the families of the two young people you killed.” He feared death, but he did not fear God. His salvation could only result from his fear of the Lord. In the movie he acknowledged his sinfulness immediately before his death and gave himself over to God’s mercy. If we live with a reverence and respect for the Lord, the biblical Fear of the Lord, then we do not have to be afraid of anything. If we live with a reverence and respect for the Lord, in the biblical Fear of the Lord, then all those concerns of ours that the evening news delights in frightening us with diminish. Will the world end this year? Maybe, probably not. But it does not matter as long as we are united to God. Will World War III erupt when we lest expect? Maybe, probably not. But it does not matter as long as we are united to God. Will Hurricane Tutsi-Frutsi devastate the west coast of Florida destroying our homes and futures? Maybe, probably not. But it does not matter as long as we are united to God. Will people attack us for being Christian? Will we be disparaged because we our against abortion, against capital punishment, against warfare? We probably will be, but it does not matter as long as we are united to God. We have nothing to fear as long as we fear the Lord. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows • AE
Fr. Agustin´s Schedule for Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday June 24, 2023
2.30 p.m. Sacrament of Matrimony for Alyssa and Greg (Main church)
3.30 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessional)
Sunday June 25, 2023
12.30 p.m. Holy Mass (English)
3.00 p.m. Misa en Español
XII Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (Ciclo A)
E. Hopper, Cape Cod Morning (1950), óleo sobre tela, Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington)
Nuestro corazón está lleno de inquietudes, miedos e inseguridades, quién lo duda. Rilke decía que hemos de tener paciencia con todo cuanto queda aún por resolver en nuestros corazones, pero lo cierto es que nuestro ser busca un descanso, una serenidad y armonía que difícilmente pueden proporcionar unas buenas vacaciones. La experiencia de Dios tal como se ofrece y comunica en Jesús puede contribuir a conocer la paz y el sosiego, pero esta experiencia es absolutamente personal. Cada uno ha de escuchar la llamada de Jesús: «No tengáis miedo, no hay comparación entre vosotros y los gorriones». Tal vez, lo primero sería detenernos en experimentar a Dios sólo como amor. Todo lo que nace de él es amor. De él sólo nos llega vida, paz y bien. Yo me puedo apartar de él y olvidar su amor, pero él no cambia. El cambio se produce sólo en mí. Él nunca deja de amarme. Hay algo todavía más conmovedor. Dios me ama incondicionalmente, tal como soy. No tengo que ganarme su amor. No tengo que conquistar su corazón. No tengo que cambiar ni crecer ni ser bueno para ser amado por él. Más bien, sabiendo que me ama así, puedo cambiar, crecer y ser mejor. Desde esto puedo entonces pensar en mi vida: ¿Qué me pide Dios?, ¿qué espera de mí? ¡Que aprenda a amar! No sé en qué circunstancias me puedo encontrar, y qué decisiones tendré que tomar, pero Dios sólo espera de mí que ame a las personas y busque su bien, que me ame a mí mismo y me trate bien, que ame la vida y me esfuerce por hacerla siempre más digna y más humana para todos. Que sea sensible al amor. Amando acertaré. Finalmente, hay algo que no debo olvidar. Nunca estaré solo. Todos vivimos, nos movemos y existimos en Dios, como nos recuerda el libro de los Hechos. Él será siempre esa presencia comprensiva y exigente que necesito, esa mano fuerte que me sostendrá en la debilidad, esa luz que me guiará por sus caminos. Él me invitará siempre a caminar y decir sí a la vida. Un día, cuando termine mi peregrinación por este mundo, conoceré junto a Dios la paz y el descanso, la vida y la libertad. Allí Él enjugará las lágrimas de nuestros ojos, porque, al contemplarlo seremos para siempre semejantes a Él, y cantaremos eternamente sus alabanzas • AE
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 