Jesus is here for us. He is right here walking among us, but sometimes we don't recognize His presence. We are blinded like Bartimaeus, living life in our own bubble oblivious to Christ's work among us, oblivious to our need for Him. Yet, He is still here, still calling us to Himself. We must simply step forward in faith, recognize our need for Him and accept His call on our lives. The path of discipleship is not an easy path. Today's readings encourage us not to let anything impede us from our calling out to Christ and following Him. As Bartimaeus learned that a life of a disciple is rewarding, we will also learn that indeed, following Christ is truly a great joy!
The gospel today teaches us an important lesson in discipleship - persistence. The example of Bartimaeus would help us learn this lesson - Bartimaeus insisted on calling out to Jesus. He knew that Jesus could heal him. He knew that Christ was the answer to his problems, and he believed that Jesus would help him. So, in faith, he called out and Jesus called him to Himself, and when Bartimaeus responded to Christ's call, he was healed of his blindness. "Your faith has saved you," Jesus tells him, and Bartimaeus "followed Jesus on the way."
Jesus is here for us. He is right here walking among us, but sometimes we don't recognize His presence. We are blinded like Bartimaeus, living life in our own bubble oblivious to Christ's work among us, oblivious to our need for Him. Yet, He is still here, still calling us to Himself. We must simply step forward in faith, recognize our need for Him and accept His call on our lives. The path of discipleship is not an easy path. Today's readings encourage us not to let anything impede us from our calling out to Christ and following Him. As Bartimaeus learned that a life of a disciple is rewarding, we will also learn that indeed, following Christ is truly a great joy! Today, we will move away from my usual Sunday bulletin message. I would like us to reflect on an important part of our Catholic devotion - the rosary and the chaplets.
The term "rosary" used as a proper noun, Rosary, designates the well-known Dominican rosary. All other arrangements of beads are properly called chaplets or crowns, or simply beads. But in popular writings and among the faithful these chaplets are called rosaries as well. All the faithful are acquainted with the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The entire Rosary contains fifteen decades until the recent time when Saint John Paul II, while Pope - added another five and called it The Luminous Mysteries. The one more commonly used is that with five decades, a third part of the whole. This is the well-known Dominican Rosary. Originally the name Rosary was used to designate the entire twenty decades, whereas the five decade one was called corona (crown). This distinction, however, is no longer observed, and these names are used synonymously. Many Catholics are acquainted with one or more of the other types of rosaries or chaplets which have come into use in the course of time. Many of these are more or less connected with a certain religious order, which furthers a particular form of devotion. Thus, besides the ordinary Dominican rosary, there is the Franciscan Crown and St. Anthony's Chaplet (Franciscans), Brigittine Rosary (Brigittines), Crosier Beads (Crosier Fathers), Chaplet of the Five Wounds (Passionists), Crown of our Lord (Camaldoles), Chaplet in honor of the Precious Blood (Precious Blood Fathers), Rosary of the Seven Sorrows (Servite Fathers) among many others. It is interesting to note that nearly every type of rosary has a different number or arrangement of beads. Thus the complete Dominican Rosary has 20 decades, the Franciscan Crown has 7 decades, the Brigittine has 6 decades, the Crosier has 5 decades, the rosary for the dead has 4 decades, the Crown of Our Lord has 3 decades. The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows has 7 groups of 7 beads, that of the Holy Ghost has 5 groups of 7, as also that of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the chaplet of the Holy Face has 5 groups of 6, that of the Precious Blood has 6 groups of 5; that of the Five Wounds has 5 groups of 5, as also the Sacred Heart. St. Anne's has 3 groups of 5. The Chaplet of Immaculate Conception has 3 groups of 4; that of St. Joseph and the Way of the Cross-have 15 groups of 3 while St Anthony's has 13 groups of 3; the Angelic Crown has 9 groups of 3. The beads of the Blessed Sacrament numbers 33, of St. Philomena numbers 13 and 3 while that of the Infant of Prague numbers 12 and 3. Usually no special color is prescribed for the beads of the various chaplets. But in that of St. Joseph there are white and blue beads, symbolizing his purity and piety. Another case is that of the Crown of St. Philomena, in which the beads must be white and red. The beads of the Chaplet of the Precious Blood are red, as also those of the Crown of Our Lord and of the Sacred Heart. I hope that this information has given you a glimpse of how rich these devotions are. May the Blessed Mother, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary continue to inspires us to deepen our life of prayer and devotion as an expression of our love for God. ___notes; from TWENTY-FOUR ROSARIES AND CHAPLETS 1994. There are lots of things that have been weighing in on my mind lately. Not just issues regarding the direction of the parish, the pains and aches of the individuals who come to me for counseling and direction, but also the present and future state of the Universal Church, wounded, traumatized, and scandalized by division and sin. The question I have for the Lord when I go into prayer somewhat reflects that of the rich young man in today’s gospel. “Good master, what must we do…?” I guess it would be the same question that many of you would ask the Lord if you had the chance.
The gospel teaches us important lessons in the story of the rich young man. The story, I’m afraid, ends on a sad note. His persistence in pressing the Lord for an answer would eventually lead him to one that he did not bargain for. The answer would require a price too heavy to be paid; a cost he was unwilling to bear. Having faith in the Lord and following Him along the path of holiness is not going to be easy. Jesus challenges us to match deeds to our words. The temptation to walk away from Christ is great, and many have done so. Today, the Lord throws us the challenge once again, ‘sell everything, take up your cross and follow me!’ We must risk giving up every false security, our comfort zones, and our complacent self-satisfaction with the status quo. Will you choose to walk away like the rich young man or stand your ground and accept the challenge of the cross? This may seem to be a tall order, but remember, "For human beings it (may seem) impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." In Philadelphia, three years ago - the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the World Meeting of Families. It was a fresh air blowing across the Catholic United States and those who do not necessarily share our Catholic faith but found solace in the presence of the Holy Father. We have been blessed to have him visit our country and bless all families. I hope you were all, at one point, have been blessed by his visit. One of the most beautiful words that he spoke about family is this, he said: "All the love and beauty God has in Himself, he gives it to the family." In simplicity, the Holy Father is saying that the family is a reflection of the Holy Trinity.
I have heard it said that when you marry, it is like going back to school again because one learns to love and forgive in marriage. And it must be constantly learned. Marriage is a school of love, it is a school of forgiveness, a school of healing. Marriage in the Catholic Church is so beautiful that it is not just being partners, not just fulfilling the natural human desire to share one’s life with another but it is also a sacrament. Like all the sacraments, marriage unites the couple with Jesus, and brings them God’s blessing. It is not just husband and wife united to each other in marriage; it is husband and wife united to each other with Jesus in marriage. Marriage and families are facing many different and difficult challenges in today's society. As a community of faith, let us continue to pray for strength in order to face these challenges with the grace of God. If we see young couples clasping hands ... completely in love with each other, we ask the question, "is there anything more beautiful in life than this love?" Yes, there is more beautiful thing ... it is an old couple finishing their life's journey together, clasping hands, still radiant. "Yes, there is more beautiful thing than young love - old love." |
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