>> A READING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE LETTER OF SAINT JAMES. JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES IN THE DISPERSION, GREETINGS. CONSIDER IT ALL JOY, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS, FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. AND LET PERSEVERANCE BE PERFECT, SO THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING IN NOTHING. BUT IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, HE SHOULD ASK GOD WHO GIVES TO ALL GENEROUSLY AND UNGRUDGINGLY, AND HE WILL BE GIVEN IT. BUT HE SHOULD ASK IN FAITH, NOT DOUBTING, FOR THE ONE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA THAT IS DRIVEN AND TOSSED ABOUT BY THE WIND. FOR THAT PERSON MUST NOT SUPPOSE THAT HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD, SINCE HE IS A MAN OF TWO MINDS, UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS. THE BROTHER IN LOWLY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN HIGH STANDING, AND THE RICH ONE IN HIS LOWLINESS, FOR HE WILL PASS AWAY LIKE THE FLOWER OF THE FIELD. FOR THE SUN COMES UP WITH ITS SCORCHING HEAT AND DRIES UP THE GRASS, ITS FLOWER DROOPS, AND THE BEAUTY OF ITS APPEARANCE VANISHES. SO WILL THE RICH PERSON FADE AWAY IN THE MIDST OF HIS PURSUITS. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> BEFORE I WAS AFFLICTED I WENT ASTRAY, BUT NOW I HOLD TO YOUR PROMISE. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> YOU ARE GOOD AND BOUNTIFUL; TEACH ME YOUR STATUTES. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED, THAT I MAY LEARN YOUR STATUTES. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> THE LAW OF YOUR MOUTH IS TO ME MORE PRECIOUS THAN THOUSANDS OF GOLD AND SILVER PIECES. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> I KNOW, O LORD, THAT YOUR ORDINANCES ARE JUST, AND IN YOUR FAITHFULNESS YOU HAVE AFFLICTED ME. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. >> LET YOUR KINDNESS COMFORT ME ACCORDING TO YOUR PROMISE TO YOUR SERVANTS. >> BE KIND TO ME, LORD, AND I SHALL LIVE. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, SAYS THE LORD; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> THE PHARISEES CAME FORWARD AND BEGAN TO ARGUE WITH JESUS, SEEKING FROM HIM A SIGN FROM HEAVEN TO TEST HIM. HE SIGHED FROM THE DEPTH OF HIS SPIRIT AND SAID, WHY DOES THIS GENERATION SEEK A SIGN? AMEN, I SAY TO YOU, NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN TO THIS GENERATION. THEN HE LEFT THEM, GOT INTO THE BOAT AGAIN, AND WENT OFF TO THE OTHER SHORE. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> A PRIEST FRIEND OF MINE IN THE MOBILE, ALABAMA DIOCESE SAID SOMETHING THAT I NEVER HAVE FORGOTTEN AND HE SAID WE PRIESTS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND I WAS THINKING OVER MY OWN PRIESTHOOD. APPROACHING 29 YEARS. AND SOME OF THOSE EVENTS IN MY PRIESTLY LIFE RELATED TO THE DAYS SCRIPTURES. I HAD JUST BEEN ORDAINED. I HAD NOT ANOINTED ANYONE. IN MY YOUNG PRIESTHOOD. I GOT A CALL FROM A LADY HERE IN IRON DALE ALABAMA HIS MOTHER WAS DYING ASKING IF A PRIEST COULD COME SO I WENT THERE AND I WENT OVER THE RITUAL MAKING SURE I HAD EVERYTHING RIGHT. AND WENT IN THERE AND ANOINTED HER MOTHER AND JUST TALKED BRIEFLY WITH THIS WOMAN AND HER SON AND LEFT AND I THOUGHT NO MORE ABOUT IT. BUT THEY BOTH ENDED UP COMING INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCE OF THAT SACRAMENT AT THE TIME OF THE MOTHER'S PASSING AWAY PASSING AND DYING. I THOUGHT ALSO 1 OF THE EMPLOYEES HERE WHO WAS ANSWERING PHONES MANY YEARS AGO. HE SAID I HAVE A FRIEND IN CALIFORNIA. GIVE THEM A CALL. HE IS BEEN AWAY FROM THE FAITH. DYING OF BRAIN CANCER. COULD YOU CALL HIM? SO I CALLED HIM AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION, A LONG CONVERSATION. HE SAID YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE NEVER LOOK UP UNTIL WE ARE FLAT ON OUR BACKS. RIGHT? HE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS. THE ETERNAL THINGS AS HE WAS DYING OF BRAIN CANCER. I THOUGHT OF THE MAN WHO WAS HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANITY TO HIS WIFE'S CATHOLIC FAITH AND RIDICULING HER. HE WAS DYING AND IN A COMA AT ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL HERE. SHE ASKED ME TO COME. WE PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET. I SPOKE INTO HIS EAR HELPING HIM TO MAKE AN ACT OF CONTRITION. GO THROUGH THE COMMANDMENTS. AFTER I LEFT SHE SAID THAT TEARS STREAMED DOWN HIS CHEEKS. I BELIEVE THE LORD VISITED HIM. THEN FINALLY JUST A WEEK AGO I WENT TO BLESS A MAN WHO WAS IN HOSPICE CARE AND HE SURPRISED HIS FAMILY SAYING HE WANTED TO BECOME A CATHOLIC. SO I CONFIRMED HIM. I GAVE HIM HIS 1ST AND ONLY HOLY COMMUNION. AND HE PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. RICHARD. IN ALL OF THESE THINGS I AM RELATING IT TO TODAY'S PSALM THAT WE HAD AS WELL AS THE LETTER OF ST. JAMES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE READING THROUGH THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. WE HAD THE VERY 1ST THINGS THAT JAMES SAYS. WHAT IS THE VERY 1ST THING THAT JAMES SAYS? CONSIDER IT ALL JOY, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS, WHAT? CONSIDER IT ALL JOY. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS. HOW? HOW IS THAT OF JOY HOW IS THAT SOMETHING TO BE JOYFUL ABOUT? FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. LET PERSEVERANCE BE PERFECT SO THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING IN NOTHING. SO THERE IS A STRENGTHENING OF THE FAITH. THERE IS REALLY THERE IS AN INTENSIFYING OF OUR LOVE ARE TURNING TOWARD GOD OUR ABANDONMENT OUR TRUST IN GOD. ST. JAMES TALKS ABOUT THE PAST THE FACT THAT FOR THOSE WHO WERE WEALTHY AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT IS ALL GOING TO BE LIKE A FLOWER AND WILTED GOING TO FADE AWAY. AS WE COME TO THE END OF OUR LIVES WE ARE DETACHED WHETHER WE WANT TO BE OR NOT. ST. FRANCIS CHOSE THAT TO CHOOSE GOD TO BE DETACHED FROM THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. THE SAINTS CHOSE THAT. NOT ATTACHED TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. WHEN WE COME TO THE END OF OUR LIVES WERE GOING TO BE DETACHED WHETHER WE WANT TO BE OR NOT. WERE GOING TO BE EMPTIED. PLEASE GOD THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO LOOK UP IF WE ARE FLAT ON OUR BACKS IF WE HAVE NOT BEFORE THAT. BUT PLEASE GOD WE WILL START THAT RIGHT NOW. WE WILL BEGIN TO LOOK UP IN PRAYER. AND TRUST AND EVEN IN THE TRIALS WE HAVE. TODAY'S PSALM TALKS AND WE HEARD THE WORD AFFLICTION 3 TIMES. BEFORE, THIS IS PSALM 119. BEFORE I WAS AFFLICTED I WENT ASTRAY, AND LATER, IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED. AND THEN THE 3RD TIME, IN YOUR FAITHFULNESS YOU HAVE AFFLICTED ME. YOU SEE THE LORD EVEN IN OUR TRIBULATIONS WAS WITH US. HE IS FAITHFUL TO US. HE IS SEEKING US. CS LEWIS BOOK SPOKE OF SUFFERING AS GOD'S MEGAPHONE. HELLO! HE GETS OUR ATTENTION. WE START TO LOOK UP. WE BEGIN TO SEE THIS LIFE IS NOT ALL THAT THERE IS. I AM NOT EVEN SURE WHO WON THE SUPER BOWL LAST NIGHT BUT I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THIS MAN WHO WAS ON SUPER BOWL WINNING TEAM AND HE WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND SAID IS THIS ALL THERE IS? CAN YOU IMAGINE REACHING THE EPITOME OF THAT SPORT AND YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND WELL WHAT ELSE? WELL WE ARE MADE FOR MUCH MORE. WE ARE MADE FOR MUCH MORE. RIGHT? WE ARE MADE FOR GOD. SOMETIMES OUR DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE THINGS OF LIFE AND EVEN THE WONDERFUL THINGS OF THIS LIFE THAT THEY JUST DID NOT COMPLETELY SATISFY US THEY HELP US TO BEGIN TO LOOK UP TO WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT AND WHAT LAST AND WHAT IS ETERNAL. YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NEVER READ THE BIBLE, IF IT IS NOT YOUR PRACTICE TO READ THE BIBLE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ JUST 4 PAGES. I THINK THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PAGES WE COULD READ IN THE BIBLE. AND ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI WHEN HE WAS DYING WANTED THIS READ. AT LEAST A PORTION OF IT THAT BEGINS WITH JOHN CHAPTER 13. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU READ JOHN 13, 14, 16 AND 17. THIS IS THE LORD'S WORDS TO HIS DISCIPLES AND TO ALL OF US REALLY IN THE UPPER ROOM BEFORE HE GOES TO HIS PASSION. SO WE HEAR SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CONSOLING WORDS OF OUR LORD ENCOURAGING WORDS. I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. I WILL SEND YOU ANOTHER COUNSELOR TO BE WITH YOU. THE HOLY SPIRIT. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. THAT WHERE I AM YOU ALSO MAY BE. AND THAT SECTION CHAPTER 13 JOHN CHAPTER 13 THROUGH 16 IS HIS WORDS THAT ARE VERY CONSOLING AND ENCOURAGING TO US CHAPTER 17 IS HIS PRAYER. HIS HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER TO THE FATHER. SO HOW DOES THAT SECTION END? HOW DOES CHAPTER 16 END? THESE ARE THE LAST WORDS OF OUR LORD 2 HIS APOSTLES, TO ALL OF US IN JOHN CHAPTER 16. I HAVE SAID THESE THINGS TO YOU THAT THAT IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. BUT TAKE HEART I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. SO HE SAYS I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY ALL TRIBULATION AND DIFFICULTIES, AFFLICTIONS I BUT HAVE COURAGE BECAUSE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. AND HE WILL SAY LATER MATTHEW'S GOSPEL, BEHOLD I AM WITH YOU ALL DAYS UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD. THAT IS A GREAT COMFORT. NOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE AFFLICTION FREE. THE SCRIPTURES ARE QUITE CLEAR. JAMES IS QUITE CLEAR IN THE VERY 1ST THING THAT HE SAYS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE VARIOUS TRIALS. BUT YOU CAN HAVE JOY IN THEM. BECAUSE WHAT GOD IS BRINGING YOU TO A STRONGER FAITH, ABANDONMENT, SURRENDER, TRUST, INTENSIFYING YOUR LOVE. BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY WHERE DID JESUS REVEAL HIS LOVE MOST PROFOUNDLY? IT WAS WHEN HE WAS SUFFERING ON THE CROSS. FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. I SAID TO ANOTHER MAN WHO DIED RECENTLY, AND HE WAS BEING DEBILITATED BY THIS MUSCLE DISEASE. HE HAD VERY LITTLE USE OF HIS MUSCLES ANYMORE. HE WAS JUST THERE. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS? I WAS SAYING TO HIM, YOU ARE ON THE CROSS, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS WITH JESUS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU'RE ON THE CROSS. YOU CANNOT EVEN MOVE YOUR HANDS OR ARMS OR LEGS, JESUS COULD NOT WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS. YOU ARE THERE WITH HIM. HE IS DRAWING YOU CLOSER TO HIS HEART. YOU'RE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO HIM. HE IS NEXT TO YOU. SO THE LORD SAYS YOU KNOW, I TELL YOU THESE THINGS SO YOU MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. BUT TAKE HEART. HAVE COURAGE. BECAUSE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. SO THESE THINGS HAVE A WAY OF DETACHING US AND WE SEE THIS IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS LIKE ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA. HE IS A SOLDIER. THAT IS WHAT HE IS THINKING OF. HE LOVES READING THE STORIES OF MILITARY VICTORIES AND THEN A CANNONBALL EXPLODES NEAR HIM AND DAMAGES HIS LEG AND HE IS IN HOSPITAL. THEY DO NOT HAVE THOSE KINDS OF BOOKS. THEY HAVE THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED. ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA CAN SAY THAT. ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI HE ALSO IS THINKING OF KNIGHT ERRANTRY, A GREAT KNIGHT GOING INTO BATTLE. THEN HE IS TAKEN PRISONER IN A FOUL PRISON. AND HE GETS DEATHLY ILL. AND HE BEGINS TO SEE THINGS QUITE DIFFERENTLY AND HE REDISCOVERS, HE REDISCOVERS JOY WHEN HE JUST DETACHES FROM EVERYTHING OF THIS WORLD AND GIVES EVERY THING TO GOD. MY GOD AND MY ALL. MY GOD AND MY ALL. HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS JOY. BECAUSE HE IS THE JOY OF LIVING IN GOD'S WILL. THAT JOY THE HOPE OF THE ETERNAL LIFE. EVEN AS HE WAS DYING HE IS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PAINFUL THINGS. HE IS LOSING HIS EYESIGHT. HE IS SUFFERING IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. YET HE JUST WANTS TO BE LIKE CHRIST. HE SAYS BROTHERS, LET ME NAKED ON THE GROUND AFTER I DIE. SO THAT I CAN BE LIKE OUR LORD. YOU SEE THE LOVER YOU THINK OF VALENTINE'S DAY TODAY BUT THE GREATEST ROMANCE IS THE ROMANCE OF GOD FOR US. HE IS THE GREAT LOVER. AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CAPTIVATED BY HIS LOVE LIKE ST. FRANCIS THEY JUST WANT TO GIVE EVERYTHING BACK TO HIM WHO GAVE EVERYTHING TO THEM. THAT IS TRUE FOR ALL OF US. HE HAS GIVEN EVERYTHING. AND 1 OF THOSE WORDS AND THAT SECTION OF JOHN'S GOSPEL IS I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. SO HE IS RAISING US TO AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL OF LOVE. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. HE LOVES US TO THE END. AND TO OUR END. AS THESE DIFFERENT STORIES THAT I HAVE RELATED, HE IS THERE. HE IS PRESENT. HE IS WANTING US TO TURN TO HIM TO RETURN TO HIM. TO BE WELCOMED BY HIM. HIS LOVE IS NOT COERCIVE. BUT HE INVITES US. HE LONGS FOR US. MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA AND A BEAUTIFUL LETTER SHE WROTE TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF HER COMMUNITY IN 1994, SHE SAID WORDS THAT WHEN I READ THEM AT 1ST WERE SURPRISING TO ME. SHE WROTE, HE THIRSTS FOR YOU. HE LONGS FOR YOU. HE WAITS FOR YOU. HE MISSES YOU WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE. YOU ARE NOT THERE IF YOU NEVER GIVE HIM A PASSING THOUGHT. IF YOU ARE NOT SEEKING HIM. IN THE SCRIPTURES. IN HIS PRESENCE IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. IN PRAYER. HE THIRSTS FOR YOU. HE LONGS FOR YOU. HE WAITS FOR YOU. HE MISSES YOU WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. THAT IS WHY WE CAN SAY AS THE PSALMIST DISCOVERED IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED. IT HAS DETACHED ME FROM SO MANY THINGS OF THIS WORLD SO THAT I MIGHT SEEK THE THINGS THAT ENDURE. THAT PLACE YOU PREPARED FOR ME LORD. THAT WHERE YOU ARE I MAY ALSO BE AND YOU ARE GOING TO COME ONE DAY TO TAKE ME TO BE WITH YOU. IN YOURSELF. IN YOUR FAITHFULNESS. YOU HAVE AFFLICTED ME. YOU'RE FAITHFUL TO ME. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET ME LOSE MY SALVATION. YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN TO DRAW ME TO YOURSELF. NOT TO COERCIVELY DO IT BUT BY INVITATION, LONGING FOR ME THIRSTING FOR ME AND LOVING ME AND WAITING FOR ME TO RESPOND. SO SEE THAT IN YOUR AFFLICTIONS TODAY. THAT THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN INTENSIFY OUR LOVE FOR THE LORD. THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN PROVE OUR TRUST AND OUR FAITH AND CONSIDER IT ALL JOY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS. FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. AND LET PERSEVERANCE BE PERFECT. SO THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE. LACKING IN NOTHING.
