Our Lady of Sorrows

For a little reflection please click HERE.

Neither will i condemn you!

When i was at Mass this morning, i was thinking that the bidding prayers were soooooo beautiful! They were all about God's mercy and us to approach, they were about us not being the judges of our brothers and sisters and about us called to welcome and love one another even - i'd say especially though - especially those who need to be loved more becase they have been away from God for a while and they were just so nice! -i prayed them of course: said a heartfelt "Lord graciously hear us" at the end of each one but i also thought i'd put them over here on the blog because they really were so nice that i would like whoever reads this to pray them too - but anyway:

Faith had to read at church today SO she took my "Jum il-Mulej" (Day of the Lord) paper - the one i get from church to use for preparing ppts - and which also has the bidding prayers on it. She left it there, forgot to get it back and HENCE when i came back home i could NOT find it! Bottom like is that i cannot put those prayers up because the paper is at church - oh well...

Today's Gospel was beautiful - it always is - but today's more :-) (but i always say that anyway - they're all beautiful eh...)

I like it most when Jesus speaks to the woman and says - "oh woman? no one stayed to condemn you? they all left?". I like it because i think Jesus was really nice and friendly when He said that. I imagine that she had been so ashamed and humiliated! She was brought to Him and accused of what she had done before Him. She would not dare look up at him and then Jesus says that and - to me - it sounds like he was in a way trying to console her too saying: "ah ha! you see lady, even they, who have judged you, and brought you here, and were willing to stone you to death, even they have sin but come on now - you're even better than they are because whereas they have gone home in ANGER and without repentance YOU are still here: to receive mercy ;-)"

Jesus did not condemn her instead He gives her mercy and sends her home with what to me sounds not so much a warning as much as a blessing: "Go and sin no more" - i think God said that firmly enough yes but with SO MUCH LOVE that it would have been a blessing not a warning - something which would echo in her heart to remind her that God's love for her was so great that she does NOT want to offend or hurt Him anymore. - It is like when the priest tells us, in Confession, "Go my child and sin no more" - and we are blessed with the Grace of God, strengthened so that we can fight sin better.

Below is the powerpoint with just the Gospel - not all the readings - but at the end of it is a song.

That song is one which we have been singing at the Lenten Talks this week and although i do not quite like the way the singer is singing when he sings it on his own, i love the words. The words speak of Grace which is "enough for us and the whole human race"

God never ceases to love His Children - and we all are. Some of us - maybe some of our relatives or friends too - may leave God for a while but no matter who or why we leave God it does not change the fact that we remain loved and precious in His eyes. He would not condemn us but simply look at us, give us His Mercy and give us His Grace.

Neither will i condemn you!

View more presentations from ruth (Malta).

These are the words of the song found at the end of the ppt:

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

From the full streams

Of Your care

All who come

Begin again

Hard or friend

Rich or poor

All who need

Need fear no more

Such a thing to give away!

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

All regrets

Let go, forget

There's something that

Mends all of that

Such a thing to give away!

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

Oh happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

Sound the church bells

Let 'em ring

Let 'em ring

For everything can be redeemed

We can be redeemed

All of us!

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

Oh, happiness!

There's Grace enough for us

and the whole human race!

- and oh yes there is!

THANK GOD!!! :-)

Holy St.Joseph

We (rightly) place lots of importance on Mary but sometimes Joseph gets a little bit of a side bench: he is sooooooo very quiet that it’s quite easy to “forget” him – I often do anyway – and it takes a day like this to actually stop and think and go: OH YES ... ST. JOSEPH WAS A GREAT SAINT!

The Gospels do not record a SINGLE word of what Joseph ever said and yet I doubt he was mute! (…it’s just that his lines never made it to the final text I guess ;-)

Joking apart though, we can, from the Gospels conclude that st.Jospeh was a good worker for people identified Jesus as the son of “the carpenter”:

" Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? "

(Mt 13:55a)

He isn’t much spoken of in the Gospel but when he is he's one portrayed as an obedient child of God:

He is the one who "plans" to leave Mary “in all secrecy” because "in no way did he want to discredit her" (Mt 1:19) ...let alone have her stoned!

He is the one who furthermore accepts her lovingly and humbly when asked by the angel to do so. (Mt 1:24)

He is the one who accompanies Mary and the (unborn) child Jesus to Betlehem. (Lk 2:4,5)

He is the one who is caring for the both when this Holy Family is fleeing from Betlehem. (Mt 2:14)

He is the one who comforts Mary as they look for the missing boy Jesus. (Lk 2:41-45)

Indeed st.Joseph must have been a great worker but he was a GREATER worker in that he sought and did his very best to love and serve God. He is one spoken of as "an upright man" (Mt 1:19) in the Gospel...

…and sure enough he is “the carpenter” (Mt 13:55a) who works silently in his little workshop providing for his family!!

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This here is a video which i enjoyed watching and hence am embedding in this post:

Here's a little prayer:

Holy Saint Joseph,
husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and foster-father of Christ Jesus,
you are now with God in heaven.
Please obtain for me
and those whom i love,
a pure, humble, charitable heart
and a perfect desire to
love, obey and serve God.
As you guided Christ, so too:
guide and teach us to be just
that God may be pleased
and that one day we too
may be with Jesus in heaven.

St. Joseph patron saint and
protector of the Catholic Church
please pray for us!

a MUST-read.

I just came across this and i think it is so good that it's not to be missed: i dare call it a must-read :-)

That aside, this below is NOT a must read but i'm putting it up anyway. It's an old post and my own reflection of the Parable of the Merciful Father. I could have added/changed it but i left it as it was. It was originally posted on the 21st June of last year - it was Father's Day i believe - and written for anyone who will read it but in particular in thought was - and is - a friend for whom i pray daily that he may truly come to know the love of Jesus for him.

and one last thing before that writing, this is a beautiful song about this Gospel :-)

A beautiful day to you who is reading this :-)

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(this below was the text and no i did not re-type it all: i just copied the html of it!)

Have you ever come across someone who says to you “What? You actually read the Bible? Howcome? It’s so boring!” Some would add “But why would you want to read it? It’s always the same stories!”

They’re right: if one goes through the Bible without imagining, thinking, praying and listening they’re absolutely right. But if one “reads” the Bible properly then it’s no longer the “same stories” and it’s anything but “boring”.

I truly can’t seem to read anything without imagining it. For this reason I don’t find the Bible to be “boring” at all – and if they’re just “stories” they come alive everytime! Furthermore I know who wrote it and why. I know that God wrote it with the language and fingers of man ...for us. ...to tell each of us of His infinate love!

This day, when we celebrate Father’s Day I am continuosly reminded of that parable in Luke 15. Many people call it the story of “The Prodigal Son” but the main figure is actually the Father! The sons are secondary figures:

“There was a man with two sons.”
(Luke 15:11)

It is the story of
The Merciful Father.

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The Bible is alive and every word has meaning. Every story or fact conveys truth and one cannot just skim through/fly over a story and/or fact ...unless he/she is planning to miss most of these truths.

I can never read anything without imagining ...have you ever tried imagining this story?

Jesus continued, “There was a man with two sons. The younger said to his father: ‘Give me my share of the estate.’ So the father divided his property between them. Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land. So he hired himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to work on a pig farm. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one offered him anything. Finally coming to his senses, he said: ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.’ With that thought in mind he set off for his father’s house. He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son said: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son…’ But the father turned to his servants: ‘Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.’ And the celebration began. Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about. The servant answered: ‘Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he has ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.’ The elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. The indignant son said: ‘Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him.’ The father said: ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.’” (Lk 15: 11-32)

I won’t do the imagining for you – I can’t do that ...not even if I wanted to... so you do that ...if you like to... but the bit I like best is when the boy starts to think about going home. You’ve read the story and that’s how it is but I’ll write it putting emphasis and my own lines in ...as I imagine it.

Finally coming to his senses, he said: ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! Boy I’m REALLY stupid! I had it all – even the servants have it all – and yet here I am – a rich man’s son starving to death! Tatterred clothes, pigs food ...but how could it be that I’m this stupid?! (and it’s not fair either that I’m here ...sure I left but I AM his son ...i shouldn’t be starving here!) But what will I do? What can I do? I will get up and go back to my father that’s hard but still I’m his son I know I can do it. I’ll apologise sincerely. I’ll say to him: "Father, I have sinned against God and before you. (I know I have.) I no longer deserve to be called your son. (I REALLY don’t) Treat me then as one of your hired servants." It’s enough for me – I’ve done wrong and I know it but if he can keep me as a servant even that is enough ...it’s certainly better than this! With that thought in mind he set off for his father’s house.

We don’t see much of him along the road nor do we have his thoughts but can’t you see him and can’t you imagine what might have gone through his head?

A man walking, on his own towards his father’s house. He’s filthy and stinking (come on pigs DON’T smell nice and this man HAD BEEN feeding the pigs!) But if his appearance is miserable then look at his heart and see what goes through his head: “Boy look at me: I’m stinking with pigs, I’m filthy and dirty ...oh man what am I thinking? I left my father, embarrassing him before the other people. I spent all that he gave me ...well actually more like wasted it... oh man! But why was I so stupid? I know he’s kind and that he loves me but ...oh my what am I thinking? “love me”?? I’m lucky IF he accepts me! Love me??? ...i'd be lucky if I’m accepted – as a servant! ...what will the other people say? What will my brother say? Oh man what am I doing?”

and yet he keeps walking ...he looks like he’s on “auto pilot” or something, his feet practically dragging him home ...what’s there to lose anyway? He’s already lost everything! How much lower can he get? He keeps walking ...walking and wondering...

And then there’s the other side of the story: a father waiting for his son. A father who cared and kept waiting for him to return. (The boy didn’t know his father too well!)

"He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him."

Poor dad! And now you tell me: how could this father have “caught sight of him” unless he was on the roof of his house watching out for him? He most certainly was watching out for him – day and night! And then LOL when he sees this figure coming he’s straining his eyes to make sure it’s him! He looks like his son but he’s still a long way off. He’s been gone from home for some time now, his clothes are no longer nice and rich, his head is not high, his pace is not brisk – he looks different! ...But he IS his son! This is his son! The father has recognised him!

Before going to the next line, can you imagine his joy? Can you read his thoughts? “My son! My son! He’s coming home!!!” His heart is leaping with joy! His heart about to explode with happiness! This son is coming home! He’s coming home!!!!!!

His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.

“deeply moved with compassion”, “ran”, “hugged”, “kissed”. The boy probably just stood there thinking that he was either dreaming or else that his father was going nuts!

How can my father be "deeply moved with compassion" when he looks at me? Howcome he ran to welcome me after what I’ve done? And he’s an old man – old men don’t run!!!! ...much less to welcome a son like this! ...He’s hugging me?!!? Can’t he see how filthy I am ...can’t he smell this nasty smell? What’s he hugging me for?! Why is he doing this? Why’s he kissing me?!

Then when he’s kind of "recovering" from this "shock" he starts: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son…’

The father lets him express his sorrow for he knows it burdens him but that is enough. He won't have more of it. He’s estatic with joy and won't let him finish his words! He turns to his servants and with a tone full of excitement he says: ‘Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. (poor calf) We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found!’

I imagine the boy going “but dad... dad?” and the father just continuosly welcoming, hugging and kissing ...such that the son can no longer go on with his “buts”.

The father has called his servants to clothe and serve his son but I bet this father won’t even allow them to do it themselves! I imagine it is he himself who’s clothing the son, restoring dignity. I imagine him putting the ring in his fingers and kissing his hand. Tears of joy fill his eyes and he is pleased to bend down to put sandals on his son’s feet! (He'd have to wash his dirty feet first though - just like Jesus did with His friends!)

And the son stands there trying to understand. He’s been welcomed. He knows he does not deserve it but what can he do? And as he stands wondering, this confusion is transformed into joy: his father is overjoyed to have him home! His father loves him! What does it matter if he cannot understand his father’s reaction and love? He just knows it and is willing to accept ...what more could he ask for? What better thing can he ever have than such love?

"the celebration began."

God said there’d be a great feast everytime a sinner repents and God does that with each one of us. (Luke 15:7) He’s Our Father! Our Merciful Father! He’ll watch out for us, run to welcome us, hug, kiss, clothe and celebrate! He’d call His mother and the saints to celebrate with Him. He’d call all his angels and have a feast like no other!

He’d do that with each one of us - He’d do that each time I go back home. He’d do that each time I go to Confession – because He cares! Because He is a Father who wants only the very best for His children.

On this day, it being Father’s day I am grateful to God for Him being such a Father. On this day, it being Father’s day in the Year of the Priest, I am thankful to God for priests – men who serve God and His people, who are spiritual fathers. ...fathers to whom God gives authority to forgive our sins:

Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, “Re­ceive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” (Jn 20: 21-23)

May each one be abundantly blessed!
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i think this is a lovely video: