>> 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. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ >> 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 ♪ >> THE READING FROM THE 1ST LETTER ST. JOHN BEGINS WITH THESE WORDS TODAY. WHO INDEED IS THE VICTOR OVER THE WORLD BUT THE ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? WHEN WE SPEAK OF THE VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST OVER THE WORLD, WHAT SORT OF IMAGERY DOES THAT CALL TO MIND? WHEN WE HEAR THE WORDS WHEN WE HEAR WORDS SUCH AS VICTORY, CONQUEROR, OR OVER, WE MIGHT THINK IN TERMS OF MILITARY COMBAT. MILITARY LANGUAGE AND IMAGERY ARE CERTAINLY NOT ALIEN TO CATHOLIC TRADITION. WE CALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH THE CHURCH MILITANT. THE PRINTER SAINT MICHAEL WRITTEN BY POPE LEO THE 13TH CALLS ON SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL TO DEFEND US IN BATTLE. ST. PAUL EXHORTS THE EPHESIANS TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. EVEN POPE FRANCIS HAS DESCRIBED THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS A FIGHT AGAINST EVIL. CLEARLY AS CHRISTIANS AND CATHOLICS WE ARE IN A BATTLE. THIS BATTLE INCLUDES EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. TO BE EFFECTIVE IN BATTLE IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW WHO THE ENEMY IS. WHO ARE WE FIGHTING AGAINST? AN ARMY CANNOT AN ARMY WHO CANNOT CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE ENEMY CAN LEAD TO DISASTROUS RESULTS. THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE ARMY MAY BECOME CONFUSED AND DISORIENTED AND BEGIN TO FIGHT AGAINST EACH OTHER. THEY MIGHT FIGHT AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE WHO APPEAR TO BE THE ENEMY BUT REALLY ARE NOT. WE SHOULD WISH TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES DUE TO OUR IGNORANCE AND LACK OF FORESIGHT. THANKFULLY ST. JOHN IDENTIFIES THE ENEMY FOR US. NAMELY, THE WORLD. JESUS IS THE VICTOR OVER THE WORLD AND WE ARE UNITED TO HIS VICTORY IN FAITH. BUT DOES THAT REALLY MAKE THINGS CLEARER FOR US. WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN THAT CHRIST IS VICTOR OVER THE WORLD? WHAT DOES JOHN MEAN BY THE WORLD? ORDINARILY PHYSICAL MILITARY COMBAT TAKES PLACE AGAINST ENEMIES OF FLESH AND BLOOD. YET WE ARE THE COMBATANTS WE ARE COMBATANTS ENGAGED IN A SPIRITUAL COMBAT. ARE OUR ENEMIES THE COMMUNIST, ATHEIST, SECULARIST HUMANIST, FASTEST, THOSE OF OTHER NON CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS OR GOVERNMENT? THE ANSWER IS NO. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR REAL ENEMIES. IN FACT WE SHOULD IDENTIFY ALL OF THE HUMAN BEINGS NOT AS ENEMIES BUT RATHER AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS UNDER GOD UNDER ONE GOD AND FATHER. AND POTENTIALLY IS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. THAT IS WHAT WE HOPE AND PRAY FOR. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN BATTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD ST. PAUL TEACHES BUT RATHER A GET SPIRITUAL POWERS. AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. THESE WICKED SPIRITUAL POWERS UTILIZE ANY MEANS POSSIBLE MOST ESPECIALLY THE THINGS OF THE WORLD TO TURN US AWAY FROM GOD AND TO TURN US AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. TO DIVIDE US. FROM ONE ANOTHER. EARLIER IN HIS 1ST LETTER JOHN IDENTIFIES THE 3 THINGS IN THE WORLD THAT WE MUST AVOID, THAT WE MUST NOT LOVE. THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE. THESE WORLDLY THINGS CORRESPOND WITH THE 7 DEADLY SINS. THE LUST OF THE FLESH INCLUDES GLUTTONY, CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF FOOD, LUST, INORDINATELY INDULGING IN SEXUAL DESIRE, AND SLOTH OR ACEDIA, SPIRITUAL LAZINESS OR LISTLESSNESS. THE LUST OF THE EYES CAN INCLUDE AVARICE OR GREED, AN INORDINATE ATTACHMENT TO MATERIAL WEALTH AND GOODS AND ENVY AN INORDINATE SENSE OF SADNESS AT THE GOOD FORTUNE OF OTHERS. THE PRIDE OF LIFE INCLUDES PRIDE OR ARROGANCE, THINKING TOO HIGHLY OR TOO MUCH OF ONESELF, REGARDING ONESELF AS BETTER THAN OTHERS AND ANGER OR WRATH UNCONTROLLED ANGER, RAGE, OR HATRED TOWARDS OTHERS. ST. JOHN EXHORTS US NOT TO LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. IN THIS CONTEXT HE IS NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD NOT LOVE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD BUT RATHER THAT WE SHOULD SPURN THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION. BECAUSE GOD LOVES THE WORLD. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. WE LOVE THE PEOPLE. WE HATE THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. WE CANNOT REMAIN CHILDREN OF GOD WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INDULGING IN THESE SINS WITHOUT REPENTANCE. THESE SINS ARE THE MARKS OF OUR TRUE SPIRITUAL ENEMY. OUR FIGHT IS NOT AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE BUT AGAINST THE TENDENCY WITHIN OURSELVES TOWARDS COMMITTING SIN. WHEN WE ENGAGE IN THIS SPIRITUAL BATTLE WE DO NOT FIGHT ALONE. SINCE CHRIST IS ALREADY RUN THE VICTORY OVER THE WORLD THROUGH HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH WE ARE MERELY CALLED TO UNITE OURSELVES WITH HIM IN VICTORY. THE MORE THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR TRUE BAPTISMAL IDENTITY AS CHILDREN OF GOD AND THAT FAITHFULLY ACCORDING TO THAT IDENTITY THE LESS LIKELY WE ARE TO TO BE DECEIVED BY THE WORLD'S EMPTY PLEASURES AND PROMISES AND THUS FALL INTO SIN. ST. JOHN REMINDS US OF 2 POWERFUL WEAPONS IN OUR ARSENAL THAT WE MUST USE IN COMBAT. FAITH AND LOVE. FAITH IS NOT AN EMPTY WORD. IT IMPLIES AN ENTIRE WAY OF THINKING AND A WAY OF ACTING. WHEN WE SAY THAT WE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS IDENTITY. THE TRUTH OF HIS IDENTITY AS THE SON OF THE ETERNAL FATHER. WE RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH OF OUR FAITH AND WE FIRMLY ADHERE TO IT. WE BELIEVE IN THE LOVE GOD HAS FOR US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND THROUGH NO OTHER MEANS. BUT BELIEVING IS NOT MERELY A MENTAL EXERCISE. IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SIMPLY SAY THAT WE BELIEVE WITHOUT SHOWING OUR FAITH THROUGH CONCRETE ACTIONS. OUR FAITH IS NOT IN A DEAD LETTER, BUT IT IS A LIVING FAITH. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE THAT MUST BE LIVED OUT DAILY IN LOVE. IF WE BELIEVE THAT GOD LOVES US THEN WE ALSO MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WE MUST LOVE OTHER CATHOLICS, OTHER CHRISTIANS, PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS, AND EVEN THOSE AGAINST WHOM WE MIGHT HAVE ALL SORTS OF ARGUMENTS AND DISAGREEMENTS. IF WE DO NOT LOVE EVERYONE, EVEN THOSE WE MIGHT CONSIDER OUR ENEMIES, THEN WE CANNOT BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD. LOVE IS THE MARK OF A CHILD OF GOD. IT IS IN LOVING THE PERSON WHOM WE CAN SEE THAT WE TRULY LOVE GOD WHOM WE CANNOT SEE. IT IS THROUGH FAITH AND LOVE THAT WE TRULY PARTICIPATE IN CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER THE WORLD. TO DETACH OURSELVES FROM THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WE SHOULD EXAMINE OURSELVES REGULARLY ESPECIALLY WHEN PREPARING FOR CONFESSION. WE CAN ASK OURSELVES A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS SUCH AS, DO I THINK TOO HIGHLY OF MYSELF? DO I JUDGE MYSELF AS BETTER THAN OTHERS? AM I TO JUDGE MENTAL TOWARDS OTHERS? DO I ALWAYS THINK THAT I KNOW BETTER THAN OTHERS? AM I TOO PROUD OR BOASTFUL IN MY OWN ACHIEVEMENTS? AM I HARDER ON OTHERS THAN I AM ON MYSELF ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SIN? AM I TO ATTACHED TO RECEIVING COMPLIMENTS OR PRAISE FROM OTHERS? DO I GET ANGRY OR GET ANGRY TOO EASILY WITH OTHERS? DO I CONTROL MY FEELINGS OF ANGER AND DIRECT MY FEELINGS TOWARDS DOING GOOD AND WORKING FOR JUSTICE RATHER THAN COMMITTING SIN? AM I HOLDING ON TO TOO MANY MATERIAL POSSESSIONS? AM I TO ATTACHED TO MATERIAL WEALTH? HAVE I BEEN TOO STINGY IN PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH, THE POOR, THE IMMIGRANT, THE ELDERLY AND THE INFIRM? HAVE I IGNORED OR TURNED A BLIND EYE TOWARD THOSE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE THE MEANS AND OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM? HAVE A BEEN TOO HARSH IN MY WORDS TOWARDS OTHERS OR HAVE A BEEN TOO HARSH IN MY FRATERNAL CORRECTIONS? HAVE YOU BEEN TO ATTACHED TO SEEKING CARNAL PLEASURE? HAVE I ALLOWED MY PRAYER TIME WITH GOD TO DIMINISH? DO I NEGLECT TO READ THE BIBLE REGULARLY? DO I TRY TO PAY ATTENTION DURING MASS AND PRAYER? AM I OVERLY SADDEN WHEN OTHER PEOPLE RECEIVE PRAISE AND ATTENTION AND I DO NOT? DO I BECOME ENVIOUS OVER THE GIFTS AND POSSESSIONS OF OTHERS? DO I TRY TO BE SATISFIED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFTS AND BLESSINGS THAT GOD IS GIVEN TO ME? THERE ARE MANY MORE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ASK OURSELVES SO THAT WE MIGHT ALLOW THE GRACE OF GOD TO PURIFY US FROM SIN AND FROM OUR ATTACHMENT TO THE THINGS OF THE WORLD AND ALLOW OUR IDENTITY AS CHILDREN OF GOD TO SHINE FORTH. IT IS REALLY WHAT IS ALL ABOUT AND WE ARE LETTING GO OF SIN IT IS REALLY ALLOWING OUR TRUE IDENTITY TO SHINE FORTH FROM US. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT. THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTS. HE SEES US AS PRECIOUS. HE WANTS US TO SHINE FORTH WITH ALL THE PRECIOUSNESS THAT WE HAVE. WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH THESE WORDS OF POPE BENEDICT THE 16TH FROM HIS 1ST ENCYCLICAL (LATIN)"DEUS CARITAS EST" GOD IS LOVE. WHICH EXPLAINS THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF NEIGHBOR. AND HOW THEY CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER. HE SAYS, ONLY MY READINESS TO ENCOUNTER MY NEIGHBOR AND TO SHOW HIM LOVE MAKES ME SENSITIVE TO GOD AS WELL. ONLY IF I SERVED MY NEIGHBOR CAN MY EYES BE OPEN TO WHAT GOD DOES FOR ME AND HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME. THE SAINTS, CONSIDER THE EXAMPLE OF BLESSED TERESA OF CALCUTTA, CONSTANTLY RENEWED THEIR CAPACITY FOR LOVE OF NEIGHBOR FROM THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE EUCHARISTIC LORD AND CONVERSELY THIS ENCOUNTER ACQUIRED ITS REALISM AND DEPTH IN THEIR SERVICE TO OTHERS. LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF NEIGHBOR ARE INSEPARABLE. THEY FORM A SINGLE COMMANDMENT. BOTH LIVE FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHO HAS LOVED US 1ST. NO LONGER IS IT A QUESTION THEN OF A COMMANDMENT IMPOSED FROM WITHOUT AND CALLING FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE BUT RATHER OF A FREELY BESTOWED EXPERIENCE OF LOVE FROM WITHIN. A LOVE WHICH BY ITS VERY NATURE MUST THEN BE SHARED WITH OTHERS. LOVE GROWS THROUGH LOVE. BY MEANS OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST AND BY PERSEVERING IN THE LOVE THAT FLOWS FROM OUR FAITH, WE JOIN WITH CHRIST IN ACHIEVING HIS ULTIMATE VICTORY OVER THE WORLD.
