Not just this one, but all of your Sunday reflections have a depth that would amaze St John Chrysostom. I really hope that you would someday assemble them into a book that we can read and contemplate regularly. Thank you!
I look forward to these powerful reflections on the Sunday Mass that often bring tears to my eyes. “Arise O Lord and let Thy enemies be scattered and let those that hate Thee flee from before Thy Face.“ (Ps 68). This phrase is repeated a number of times in the Holy Face chaplet, which only takes minutes to pray. It has been given to us as a counter to the revolutionary men, many of which are in high places in the Church and in the world. It is a counter to communism, to atheism, to blasphemy, to the profanation of Sundays. A simple phrase, a small chaplet, and yet it is a cry from the heart. We look to the only One who can save us, to the only One who can heal us. And we do our best to remain faithful, and we like the faithful Israelites of old, wait.
Thanks for the exposé of entitlement which afflicts us increasingly with each generation.
My immigrant peasant grandparents were more devout and grateful in their poverty than me and my children and grandchildren will ever be in our abundance.
One salvific concrete inheritance is the devotion to the rosary.
It was not an abstract concept in their homes and lives.
I've never wished I could miss Mass but there was a period of time years ago when my enthusiasm for going wasn't great. Then one morning I thought I'm looking at this wrong. It's not that I have to go; it's that I get to go! That changed everything.
A priest from my parish drove an hour to a hospital I'm sure he'd never been to to give my mother who was not his parishioner last rights. I thought this is a priest! I am still grateful.
I've learned that even in this major metropolitan area a priest to give last rites can be hard to come by. That request can go unfulfilled.
In my missal there's a prayer by St. Augustine which in part says:
If Thou spare us, we correct not our ways; if Thou punish, we cannot endure it.
In time of correction we confess our wrongdoing; after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept.
If thou stretchest forth Thy hand , we promise amendment; if Thou withholdest the sword, we keep not our promise.
As I read through it everytime I find myself saying "yep- that's true".
Thank you Chris! So happy you are back to give us deep reflection that we need to hear and meditate on, in our world of busy and short party line explanations. Lectio Divina is so important to help us know Him, love Him and serve Him. Covenant is at the heart of our God and His relationship with His people. Our Lord, Jesus Christ ,fulfills the Old Covenant perfectly and gives us abundant blessings to enable us to live the New Covenant..the good news that Jesus Christ came, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. John 3:17. We have grateful hearts no matter what our troubles...as we recognize our need for Christ and His salvation from ourselves..sinners everyone. God bless you!
Mr. Jackson: For every ten who read this, one will thank you. We here are that one. Thank you and may God bless you.
Thank you Chris! My eyes were welling up as I read it.
Glad to hear some other guy admit that.
The Notebook Binder of rules - whoa!
Not just this one, but all of your Sunday reflections have a depth that would amaze St John Chrysostom. I really hope that you would someday assemble them into a book that we can read and contemplate regularly. Thank you!
GREAT IDEA! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Dear Mr Jackson,
THANKYOU!!
This teaching has brought me to my knees and in tears.
I look forward to these powerful reflections on the Sunday Mass that often bring tears to my eyes. “Arise O Lord and let Thy enemies be scattered and let those that hate Thee flee from before Thy Face.“ (Ps 68). This phrase is repeated a number of times in the Holy Face chaplet, which only takes minutes to pray. It has been given to us as a counter to the revolutionary men, many of which are in high places in the Church and in the world. It is a counter to communism, to atheism, to blasphemy, to the profanation of Sundays. A simple phrase, a small chaplet, and yet it is a cry from the heart. We look to the only One who can save us, to the only One who can heal us. And we do our best to remain faithful, and we like the faithful Israelites of old, wait.
Thanks for the exposé of entitlement which afflicts us increasingly with each generation.
My immigrant peasant grandparents were more devout and grateful in their poverty than me and my children and grandchildren will ever be in our abundance.
One salvific concrete inheritance is the devotion to the rosary.
It was not an abstract concept in their homes and lives.
It still upholds and terrifies me-
Pray for us Holy Mother of God,
They We May Be Made
Worthy
Of The Promises of Christ.
Lord have mercy.
Ohhh, my! Thank you for this gorgeous explanation. I return to you in gratitude, Chris, again and again.
No words can describe this gift illuminating the meaning of today's Mass.
Amazing, as usual. Thank you for this very thoughtful reflection this morning. I needed to hear a lot of the things you said. God bless!
Beautiful. Blessings and welcome back.
A thought provoking discourse. Thank you very much and God Bless you.
I had to stop in the middle and pray that decade of the Rosary. I will continue this.
Thank you.
I've never wished I could miss Mass but there was a period of time years ago when my enthusiasm for going wasn't great. Then one morning I thought I'm looking at this wrong. It's not that I have to go; it's that I get to go! That changed everything.
A priest from my parish drove an hour to a hospital I'm sure he'd never been to to give my mother who was not his parishioner last rights. I thought this is a priest! I am still grateful.
I've learned that even in this major metropolitan area a priest to give last rites can be hard to come by. That request can go unfulfilled.
In my missal there's a prayer by St. Augustine which in part says:
If Thou spare us, we correct not our ways; if Thou punish, we cannot endure it.
In time of correction we confess our wrongdoing; after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept.
If thou stretchest forth Thy hand , we promise amendment; if Thou withholdest the sword, we keep not our promise.
As I read through it everytime I find myself saying "yep- that's true".
Thank you for your reflection.
Spectacular, Chris. Thank you.
Thank you Chris! So happy you are back to give us deep reflection that we need to hear and meditate on, in our world of busy and short party line explanations. Lectio Divina is so important to help us know Him, love Him and serve Him. Covenant is at the heart of our God and His relationship with His people. Our Lord, Jesus Christ ,fulfills the Old Covenant perfectly and gives us abundant blessings to enable us to live the New Covenant..the good news that Jesus Christ came, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. John 3:17. We have grateful hearts no matter what our troubles...as we recognize our need for Christ and His salvation from ourselves..sinners everyone. God bless you!
Vignettes of everyday Christian life, as it is and as it might be. Well worth reading, as in a mirror. Thank you.