>> A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF SAINT JOHN. BELOVED: WHO INDEED IS THE VICTOR OVER THE WORLD BUT THE ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? THIS IS THE ONE WHO CAME THROUGH WATER AND BLOOD, JESUS CHRIST, NOT BY WATER ALONE, BUT BY WATER AND BLOOD. THE SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO TESTIFIES, AND THE SPIRIT IS TRUTH. SO THERE ARE THREE WHO TESTIFY, THE SPIRIT, THE WATER, AND THE BLOOD, AND THE THREE ARE OF ONE ACCORD. IF WE ACCEPT HUMAN TESTIMONY, THE TESTIMONY OF GOD IS SURELY GREATER. NOW THE TESTIMONY OF GOD IS THIS, THAT HE HAS TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF HIS SON. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN THE SON OF GOD HAS THIS TESTIMONY WITHIN HIMSELF. WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE GOD HAS MADE HIM A LIAR BY NOT BELIEVING THE TESTIMONY GOD HAS GIVEN ABOUT HIS SON. AND THIS IS THE TESTIMONY: GOD GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON. WHOEVER POSSESSES THE SON HAS LIFE; WHOEVER DOES NOT POSSESS THE SON OF GOD DOES NOT HAVE LIFE. I WRITE THESE THINGS TO YOU SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> PRAISE THE LORD, JERUSALEM. >> PRAISE THE LORD, JERUSALEM. >> GLORIFY THE LORD, O JERUSALEM; PRAISE YOUR GOD, O ZION. FOR HE HAS STRENGTHENED THE BARS OF YOUR GATES; HE HAS BLESSED YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU. >> PRAISE THE LORD, JERUSALEM. >> HE HAS GRANTED PEACE IN YOUR BORDERS; WITH THE BEST OF WHEAT HE FILLS YOU. HE SENDS FORTH HIS COMMAND TO THE EARTH; SWIFTLY RUNS HIS WORD! >> PRAISE THE LORD, JERUSALEM. >> HE HAS PROCLAIMED HIS WORD TO JACOB, HIS STATUTES AND HIS ORDINANCES TO ISRAEL. HE HAS NOT DONE THUS FOR ANY OTHER NATION; HIS ORDINANCES HE HAS NOT MADE KNOWN TO THEM. ALLELUIA. >> PRAISE THE LORD, JERUSALEM. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ JESUS PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM AND CURED EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM LUCAM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> IT HAPPENED THAT THERE WAS A MAN FULL OF LEPROSY IN ONE OF THE TOWNS WHERE JESUS WAS; AND WHEN HE SAW JESUS, HE FELL PROSTRATE, PLEADED WITH HIM, AND SAID, LORD, IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN. JESUS STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND, TOUCHED HIM, AND SAID, I DO WILL IT. BE MADE CLEAN. AND THE LEPROSY LEFT HIM IMMEDIATELY. THEN HE ORDERED HIM NOT TO TELL ANYONE, BUT GO, SHOW YOURSELF TO THE PRIEST AND OFFER FOR YOUR CLEANSING WHAT MOSES PRESCRIBED; THAT WILL BE PROOF FOR THEM. THE REPORT ABOUT HIM SPREAD ALL THE MORE, AND GREAT CROWDS ASSEMBLED TO LISTEN TO HIM AND TO BE CURED OF THEIR AILMENTS, BUT HE WOULD WITHDRAW TO DESERTED PLACES TO PRAY. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> LORD, IF YOU WISH YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN. "I DO WILL IT. BE MADE CLEAN." THERE'S SO MUCH IN THIS GOSPEL. IT'S 1 OF MY FAVORITE GOSPELS. 1ST OF ALL WE ARE TOLD CLEARLY BY LUKE THAT THE MAN WAS NOT ONLY A LEPER BUT THAT HE WAS FULL OF LEPROSY. THE DISEASE HAD NOT JUST BEGUN IN HIM AND JUST MANIFEST ITSELF. THE MAN WAS FULL OF LEPROSY. AND THEN WE ARE TOLD AFTER JESUS SAID, I DO WILL IT BE MADE CLEAN, THE VERY NEXT LINE, AND THE LEPROSY LEFT HIM IMMEDIATELY. FULL OF LEPROSY THAT LEFT HIM IMMEDIATELY. AND MANY OF THE CHURCH FATHERS HAVE USED THIS GOSPEL IN AN ANALOGOUS WAY AND A MORAL SENSE AS WELL REGARDING THE REALITY OF SIN. THE REALITY OF SIN. AND THAT THROUGH GOD'S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS THAT SIN CAN BE WIPED AWAY IMMEDIATELY. THE GUILT OF THAT SIN, FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, THE GREAT TRIBUNAL OF MERCY WE WILL TALK ABOUT TOMORROW ON SATURDAY. LORD, IF YOU WISH YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN, "I DO WILL IT. BE MADE CLEAN." THE REASON WHY WE ARE ABLE TO APPLY EVEN TODAY LIKE THE CHURCH FATHERS THESE ANALOGOUS SENSE OF SCRIPTURE IS BECAUSE OF OUR TEACHING ON THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE. THERE'S TWO PARENT CATEGORIES. THE LITERAL AND THE SPIRITUAL. THE LITERAL IS LITERAL. TAKING THE WORDS AT FACE VALUE. BUT THE SECOND CATEGORY, THE SPIRITUAL, HAS 3 SUBSETS. THE MORAL, ALLEGORICAL, AND ANAGOGICAL. FOR EXAMPLE, AGAIN THE CHURCH FATHERS WRITING IN THE 1ST 7 TO 8 CENTURIES OF THE CHURCH SPOKE OF THE PASSING THROUGH THE RED SEA BY THE HEBREW PEOPLE ESCAPING THE EGYPTIANS AS A TYPE OF BAPTISM. A TYPE OF GOING THROUGH THE WATERS OF BAPTISM. SO WE HAVE THESE SENSES OF SCRIPTURE, 4 REALLY, THE LITERAL AS THE LITERAL AND THEN THE SPIRITUAL WHICH AGAIN AS MORAL, ALLEGORICAL OR ANAGOGICAL. TODAY'S GOSPEL TEACHES US THE IMPORTANCE OF ALWAYS WILLING AND STRIVING TO BOTH SEEK AND TO DO GOD'S WILL IN OUR DAILY LIFE. NOTICE THE LEPER DID NOT BEGIN BY SAYING, LORD, I WANT TO BE CLEANED. I WANT TO BE CLEANSED. NO, HE PREFACED IT WITH, IF YOU WISH, AND JESUS RESPONDS ALMOST LIKE HE IS SAYING, I DO NOT WISH IT, I WILL IT. THAT IS PRETTY POWERFUL. IT IS ALSO INTERESTING THAT THE LEPER WHEN HE COMES TO JESUS THE VERY 1ST THING HE DOES IS THAT HE FALLS PROSTRATE BEFORE JESUS. ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT HE BELIEVES JESUS TO BE THE GOD MAN. THE MESSIAH. SO AGAIN THE MAN HIMSELF WITH THE LEPROSY DESIRES TO DO GOD'S WILL. HE IS PUTTING EVERYTHING IN THE HANDS OF JESUS. AGAIN TODAY'S GOSPEL TEACHES US THE IMPORTANCE OF ALWAYS WILLING AND STRIVING TO BOTH SEEK AND DO GOD'S WILL IN OUR DAILY LIFE. THINK FOR EXAMPLE OF THE WORDS OF THE OUR FATHER WE PRAY AT EVERY SINGLE SACRED LITURGY. THY WILL BE DONE. WE DO NOT SAY MY WILL BE DONE. THY WILL BE DONE. SO THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE ALSO TEACHES US IN ONE SENSE HOW TO PRAY. OUR PRAYER SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDE SEEKING GOD'S WILL. IN REGARD TO REMAINING FAITHFUL TO GOD'S WILL TOMORROW'S 1ST READING WILL GIVE US THESE WORDS. BELOVED, WE HAVE THIS CONFIDENCE IN HIM. THAT IF WE SEEK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL HE HEARS US. NOT THAT IF WE JUST SEEK ANYTHING FROM HIM HE HEARS US. IF WE SEEK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. IN OTHER WORDS WITH OUR WILL WE WISH TO SEEK AND DO GOD'S WILL. BRUTE ANIMALS DO NOT HAVE A WILL. THE BRUTE ANIMALS HAVE INSTINCT. LIKE 2 SPOUSES, TWO MARRIED SPOUSES. THEY WILL TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. TRUE, SOME OF THAT IS NATURAL ATTRACTION. BUT THEY ALSO WILL IT. ESPECIALLY AS THE MARRIAGE GOES ON FOR YEARS. THEY WILL IT. WELL, YOUR PET CHIHUAHUA FIFE YOU THINK SHE LOVES YOU BY HER WILL. SHE DOES NOT LOVE YOU BY HER WILL. SHE LOVES YOU BY HER CANINE INSTINCTS. HER CANINE INSTINCTS HAS AN AWARENESS ABOUT IT WHERE SHE KNOWS FOR EXAMPLE YOU PERMIT HER TO JUMP ON THE COUCH OR SHE HAS A CANINE INSTINCTUAL AWARENESS THAT YOU FEED HER AT A CERTAIN TIME. THAT IS TRUE. BUT IT IS NOT RATIONAL ON THE PART OF THE ANIMAL. IT IS NOT WILLED ON THE PART OF THE ANIMAL. IT IS INSTINCTUAL ON THE PART OF THE ANIMAL. WE HUMANS CAN WILL, IT IS PART OF BEING TIED TO THE REALITY THAT WE ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS. SO TODAY'S GOSPEL ALSO TEACHES US HOW IMPORTANT THE ACT OF THE WILL IS IN DAILY LIFE OF ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO CULTIVATE IT DAILY SO AS TO STEER ONE TOWARD VIRTUE AND A VIRTUOUS LIFE AS OPPOSED TO STEERING TOWARD VICE IN A LIFE OF VICE. FOR EXAMPLE DURING YOUR APPROXIMATE PREPARATION FOR MASS WHEN YOU GET TO MASS A LITTLE EARLY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAKE A PARTICULAR WILLED INTENTION FOR THAT PARTICULAR MASS YOU ARE ATTENDING, THAT YOU MAKE A PARTICULAR WILLED INTENTION WITH A DELIBERATE AND FIRM ACT OF THE WILL AS TO WHAT IT IS YOU WISH TO OFFER THAT MASS FOR THROUGH YOUR BAPTISMAL PRIESTHOOD, WHICH ALSO IS REFERRED TO AS THE COMMON PRIESTHOOD OF THE FAITHFUL, AND YOU WILL OFFER THAT INTENTION IN UNION WITH MY MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD. WHICH IS 1 OF THE 7 SACRAMENTS, THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS; YOUR COMMON PRIESTHOOD OF THE BAPTIZED OR THE BAPTISMAL PRIESTHOOD IS NOT A SACRAMENT BUT IT WORKS IN UNION WITH THE MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD. THAT IS WHY THE OFFERTORY HERE THE CELEBRANT SAY, PRAY BROTHERS, THAT MY SACRIFICE AND YOURS, LAITY, PRAY BROTHERS, PRAY LAITY, THAT MY SACRIFICE AS A MINISTERIAL PRIEST AND YOUR SACRIFICE AS BAPTISMAL PRIESTS MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THE ALMIGHTY FATHER. WHO ELSE OFFERS A SACRIFICE BUT THE PRIEST? SO YOU OFFER YOUR SACRIFICE, YOUR PARTICULAR WILLED INTENTION AT THIS PARTICULAR MASS THROUGH YOUR BAPTISMAL PRIESTHOOD WHICH IS AGAIN IS NOT A SACRAMENT, BUT OFFERED IN UNION WITH MY MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD WHICH IS A SACRAMENT, AND I ALSO SHARE LIKEWISE IN THE BAPTISMAL PRIESTHOOD. BAPTISM IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU STUDY FOR THE PRIESTHOOD. SO I POSSESS BOTH PRIESTHOODS. ALSO FOR EXAMPLE WHEN FACED WITH A HEAD ON TEMPTATION YOU MAKE AN ACT OF THE WILL DELIBERATELY TO NOT WANT OR DESIRE THIS TEMPTATION RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE TEMPTATION MAY LINGER. YOU HAVE AT LEAST MADE A PARTICULAR ACT OF THE WILL TO TELL GOD I DO NOT WILL THIS. I MAKE AN ACT OF THE WILL RIGHT NOW TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE FROM THIS MAYBE WHAT IS A NEAR OCCASION OF SIN. REMEMBER AS CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS AS CHRISTIANS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY CALLED TO AVOID SIN DIRECTLY, WE ALSO BELIEVE WE ARE CALLED TO AVOID WHAT IS CALLED THE NEAR OCCASION OF SIN, LEST PUTTING OURSELVES IN THE NEAR OCCASION OF SIN WE BECOME JUST AS SINFUL AS CARRYING OUT THE SIN ITSELF. SO WE NOT ONLY WANT TO AVOID SIN WE WANT TO AVOID THE NEAR OCCASION, SO I MAKE AN ACT OF THE WILL RIGHT NOW TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION LEST IT BECOME A NEAR OCCASION OF SIN FOR ME. YOU KNOW A CERTAIN LAY WOMAN ONCE ASKED ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, THE STORY IS TOLD, A LAY WOMAN ASKED ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO THE VERY 1ST THING SHE NEEDED TO DO TO GROW IN SANCTITY TO GROW IN HOLINESS. ST. THOMAS'S RESPONSE TO HER. "WILL IT." THOMAS AQUINAS, WHAT IS THE VERY 1ST THING I NEED TO DO TO GROW IN SANCTITY AND PERSONAL HOLINESS? "WILL IT." BECAUSE AS THE ONLY CREATURE MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD YOU CAN WILL IT. MY FRIENDS, WE ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS, AS THE CREATION ACCOUNT OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS TEACHES US. CHURCH FATHERS TOGETHER WITH THE MAGISTERIUM SPRINGBOARDING FROM SCRIPTURE TEACH THE IMAGE THAT REFERS TO OUR INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY, THE ABILITY TO KNOW, TO WILL AND TO FREELY MAKE CHOICES. THAT LIKENESS REFERS TO OUR ABILITY TO PARTAKE IN A LIFE OF GOD'S SANCTIFYING GRACE. SO IN GENESIS 126 AND 27 IT SAYS WE ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS. AGAIN IMAGE REFERS TO OUR INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY TO KNOW, TO WILL TO FREELY MAKE CHOICES. LIKENESS REFERS TO OUR ABILITY TO PARTAKE IN A LIFE OF GOD'S SANCTIFYING GRACE. I LOVE THE COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. YOU CAN BUY IT ANY CATHOLIC BOOKSTORE. AND QUESTION NUMBER 56 IS HOW DO WE COLLABORATE WITH DIVINE PROVIDENCE? AS INDIVIDUALS. THE ANSWER GIVEN IN THE COMPENDIUM IS THIS: WHILE RESPECTING OUR FREEDOM GOD ASKED US TO COOPERATE WITH HIM AND GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO SO THROUGH ACTIONS, PRAYERS AND SUFFERINGS THUS AWAKENING IN US THE DESIRE TO WILL AND TO WORK FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. THAT IS QUOTING PHILIPPIANS 2:13 AND MAKES REFERENCE TO THE CATECHISM ITSELF NUMBERS 307 AND 308 AND 323. AGAIN HOW DO WE COLLABORATE WITH DIVINE PROVIDENCE? A QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY. SINGLES, MARRIED, CONSECRATED, RELIGIOUS, THE DIVORCED. DAD OF 3 STRIVING TO LIVE A CHASTE LIFE. THE ACTIVE PRIEST, THE CLOISTERED MONK IN THE MONASTERY, THE ACTIVE NUN TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM. DOES NOT MATTER. THE CEO IN MANHATTAN, ALL STRIVING TO GROW IN HOLINESS. HOW DO WE COLLABORATE WITH DIVINE PROVIDENCE? NUMBER 56 OF THE COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM. WHILE RESPECTING OUR FREEDOM GOD ASKS US TO COOPERATE WITH HIM AND GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO SO THROUGH ACTIONS, PRAYERS AND SUFFERINGS, SUFFERINGS! CAN EVEN BE OFFERED UP THUS AWAKENING IN US THE DESIRE TO WILL AND TO WORK FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. AGAIN QUOTING PHILIPPIANS 2:13. AND MAKING REFERENCE BACK TO THE PRIMARY CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE UNIVERSAL CATECHISM, NUMBERS 307 AND 308 AND 323. ST. AUGUSTINE TELLS US IN THE CATECHISM 1847, GOD CREATED US WITHOUT US BUT HE DID NOT WILL TO SAVE US WITHOUT US. GOD CREATED US WITHOUT US, BUT HE DID NOT WILL TO SAVE US WITHOUT US. IN OTHER WORDS GOD WANTS FATHER WADE TO BE A REAL COOPERATOR, THE LATIN IS SIMPLY MEANING COWORKER - TO WORK, GOD WANTS FATHER WADE TO BE A CO-OPERATOR IN WORKING WITH GOD TO BRING FATHER WADE TO HOLINESS AND EACH 1 OF US CAN SAY THAT ABOUT HIMSELF OR HERSELF. GOD DOES NOT DESIRE TO DO IT ALL. HE COULD DO IT ALL BUT HE DOES NOT DESIRE TO DO IT ALL BECAUSE HE MADE US IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS AND GAVE US A WILL TO KNOW HIM, TO FREELY CHOOSE HIM. AND HE HAS GIVEN US OUR EXISTENCE AND LIKENESS WHICH GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTAKE IN HIS SANCTIFYING GRACE. NOW ALL OF THIS THAT I HAVE SAID TO THIS POINT WORKS MORE READILY THROUGH FAITH. 1 OF THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES WHICH WE MADE REFERENCE TO THIS WEEK. NUMBER 28 OF THE COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE COMPENDIUM GET IT. IT IS CALLED THE COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT IS NOT VERY THICK. IT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND ANSWER. THROUGHOUT MAKING REFERENCE TO THE UNIVERSAL CATECHISM. YOU MAY PURCHASE IT AT THE RELIGIOUS CATALOG OR ANY CATHOLIC BOOKSTORE. IT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR CATHOLIC HOME LIBRARY. IT IS A QUESTION AND ANSWER THROUGHOUT. NUMBER 28 OF THE COMPENDIUM SAYS, WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITH? THE ANSWER: FAITH IS THE SUPERNATURAL VIRTUE WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION. IT IS A FREE GIFT OF GOD AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHO HUMBLY SEEK IT. THE ACT OF FAITH IS A HUMAN ACT THAT IS AN ACT OF THE INTELLECT OF THE PERSON PROMPTED BY THE HUMAN WILL. LORD, I DO WILL TO HAVE FAITH. THE WILL MOVED BY GOD WHO FREELY ASSENTS TO DIVINE TRUTH. FAITH IS ALSO CERTAIN BECAUSE IT IS FOUNDED ON THE WORD OF GOD AND IT WORKS THROUGH THE GIFT OF CHARITY AND IT CONTINUALLY GROWS THROUGH LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD AND THROUGH PRAYER. IT IS EVEN NOW A FORETASTE OF THE JOYS OF HEAVEN THAT AWAIT US. FAITH IS CERTAIN, FOUNDED ON THE WORD OF GOD, IT WORKS THROUGH CHARITY, ANOTHER 1 OF THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. IT CONTINUALLY GROWS THROUGH LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD AND THROUGH PRAYER AND HOW RICH IS THE SACRED LITURGY WITH THE WORD OF GOD? EVEN OUR PROTESTANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS MANY OF THEM USE OUR 3 YEAR LECTIONARY SYSTEM FOR THE SUNDAY READINGS AND OUR TWO-YEAR WEEK DAY CYCLE OF READINGS BECAUSE WE COVER SO MUCH OF SACRED SCRIPTURE THROUGHOUT THE 3 YEAR SUNDAY CYCLE AND THE TWO YEAR WEEKDAY CYCLE SO THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD IT GROWS. IT GIVES US A TASTE OF HEAVEN EVEN NOW. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? THE ACT OF THE WILL, MY FRIENDS, SHOULD BE A VITAL PART OF ONE'S SPIRITUAL LIFE AND OF ONE'S CALL TO HOLINESS. BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO FUNCTION ON ITS OWN. IT NEEDS CERTAIN HELPS. THE WILL DOES. THIS IS WHERE THE GIFT OF FAITH COMES IN. REMEMBER FAITH IS THE GIFT OF GOD AND OF HUMAN ACT BY WHICH THE PERSON RESPONDS TO THAT FAITH WHICH GOD HAS REVEALED THROUGH SCRIPTURE, TRADITION AND THE MAGISTERIUM. THE TEACHING OFFICE OF THE CHURCH. WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF FAITH. THE SAME EXACT DEFINITION ON MONDAY OF ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON. SHE WHO POSSESSED THOSE VIRTUES OF DETERMINATION, ZEAL, AND ALSO INDUSTRIOUSNESS. BEAUTIFUL VIRTUES TO POSSESS. ST. HILDEGARD THE GREAT BENEDICTINE NUN, SCHOLAR AND MYSTIC ALSO A DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, SAYS THIS, WRAPPING ALL OF THIS UP. THE DIVINE IMAGE OF MAN CONSISTS AS HIS RATIONALITY STRUCTURED AS INTELLECT AND WILL. THANKS TO HIS INTELLECT MAN CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. THANKS TO HIS WILL HE IS SPURRED ONTO ACTION TO DO THE GOOD AND TO AVOID EVIL, BUT SALVATION AND THE PERFECTION OF THE HUMAN BEING ARE NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH THE EFFORT OF THE WILL ALONE. NO. BUT RATHER THROUGH THE GIFTS OF GRACE THAT GOD GRANTS IN THE CHURCH. NAMELY THROUGH FAITH THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS WHICH CONFER GOD'S SANCTIFYING GRACE TO THE HUMAN SOUL. AND OF COURSE TO PARTAKE OF THE SACRAMENTS MEANS AUTOMATICALLY, HOPEFULLY, THAT WE HAVE FAITH, OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT BE RECEIVING THE SACRAMENTS IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN THEIR EFFICACY. FAITH, PERSONAL FAITH, THE GIFT OF GOD AND OF HUMAN ACT OF RESPONSE TO THAT WHICH GOD HAS REVEALED THROUGH SCRIPTURE, TRADITION AND THE MAGISTERIUM, PRESUPPOSES AN EXISTENCE IN THE PERSON, THE GIFT OF FAITH, ACCEPTED BEFORE THAT PERSON RECEIVES THE SACRAMENTS. FAITH IS IMPORTANT. ROMANS 8:26 AND 27 SAYS, LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS FOR WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US WITH SIGHS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS AND HE WHO SEARCHES THE HEARTS OF MEN KNOWS WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT BECAUSE THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. SO WE HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE. WE WANT OUR WILL TO LINE UP WITH GOD'S WILL. WE WANT OUR WILL TO ALIGN UP BEAUTIFULLY WITH GOD'S WILL. THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE. SO TODAY'S GOSPEL REGARDING THE LEPER WHO WAS FULL OF LEPROSY, WHO FALLS PROSTRATE BEFORE JESUS AND SAYS, LORD, IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN. "I DO WILL IT." NOT WISH IT. "I DO WILL IT. BE MAY CLEAN." AND THE LEPROSY LEFT HIM IMMEDIATELY. THE HOW DOES ALL OF THIS COME BACK FULL CIRCLE TO THESE DAYS BETWEEN THE EPIPHANY AND THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD? WELL, WE LOOK TO JUST ONE SIMPLE QUOTATION FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE. IF I COULD HAVE THE CAMERA CREW FOCUS ON THE NATIVITY SET ONCE AGAIN THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. AUGUSTINE SAID, AWAKE, O MANKIND, AWAKE. FOR YOUR SAKE GOD HAS BECOME MAN. AWAKE YOU WHO SLEEP AND RISE UP FROM THE DEAD AND CHRIST WILL ENLIGHTEN YOU. I TELL YOU AGAIN MANKIND, AWAKE BECAUSE FOR YOUR SAKE GOD HAS BECOME MAN. YOU WOULD SUFFER ETERNAL DEATH HAD HE NOT BEEN BORN INTO TIME. NEVER WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN FREED FROM SINFUL FLESH HAD HE NOT TAKEN ON HIMSELF THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH. YOU WOULD'VE SUFFERED, O MANKIND, EVERLASTING UNHAPPINESS HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR HIS MERCY. YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE RETURNED TO LIFE HAD HE NOT SHARED YOUR DEATH. O MANKIND, YOU WOULD BEEN LOST IF HE HAD NOT HASTENED TO YOUR AID, YOU WOULD'VE PERISHED, MANKIND, HAD HE NOT COME TO YOU. LET US THEN JOYFULLY CELEBRATE THE COMING OF OUR SALVATION AND REDEMPTION, LET US REJOICE IN THIS GRACE SO THAT OUR GLORYING MAY WITNESS TO OUR GOOD CONSCIENCE BY WHICH WE GLORY. NOT IN OURSELVES BUT IN THE LORD. THE SAME LORD WHOSE WILL WE WANT OUR OWN WILL TO ALIGN WITH. YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT. SIMPLY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRM AND DELIBERATE ACT OF THE WILL IN THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S LIFE. TO WANT TO BE REMOVED FROM SIN, TO WANT TO GET HIMSELF OUT OF THIS TEMPTATION, TO MAKE THAT OFFERING AT MASS IN UNION WITH THE PRIEST'S PRIMARY INTENTION SO THAT MY SACRIFICE AND YOURS MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THE ALMIGHTY FATHER AND IN NUMEROUS OTHER WAYS THAT THE FIRM AND DELIBERATE ACT OF THE WILL IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE LIFE OF THE HUMAN PERSON PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE MADE IN GOD'S OWN IMAGE AND LIKENESS. IMAGE REFERRING TO INTELLECT AND WILL AND THE ABILITY TO FREELY CHOOSE AND LIKENESS IN REGARDS TO THE ABILITY TO PARTAKE IN HIS SANCTIFYING GRACE. GOD BLESS YOU.
