The Wedding Ministry

Monday of the Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time Reflect, today, upon the call God gives you to show mercy. Mercy, in order to be true mercy, must hurt. It must “hurt” in the sense that it requires you to let go of your pride, selfishness and anger and choose to show love instead. You choose to show love to the point that it hurts. But that hurt is a true source of healing in that it cleanses you of your sin. Saint Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Mercy is the kind of love that may hurt at first, but in the end leaves only love. Merciful Lord, do make me an instrument of Your love and mercy. Help me to especially show mercy when it is hard in life and when I do not feel like it. May those moments be graced moments when You transform me into Your gift of love. Jesus, I trust in You. catholic-daily-reflections.com

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Today, the word challenges all of those who come together to pray each day and strive to transform their prayers into action. At times we may feel like the apostles in today's Gospel and ask the Lord for an increase of faith, because we feel tired or frustrated with our work, but the Lord invites us to live our faith anyway. The Lord encourages us to remember the strength of the Spirit, which requires that we go beyond the expectations of our duties. In the second reading, Saint Paul writes of the hardship and suffering that may come as a result of moving beyond our strengths. But he reminds us that both God's strength and human suffering are gifts that God gives to his people.

Blessing of the Animals: This custom is conducted in remembrance of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures, whose feast day is October 4th. Today, Fr. Lio blessed the animals. “Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20 Reflect, today, upon your duty to rebuke the evil one and his works in Jesus’ name. But reflect even more upon your calling to holiness of life and growth in virtue. These, more than anything else, are the pathway to Heaven! catholic-daily-reflections.com

MAHALO CUB SCOUTS TROOP #79 Sending out a BIG MAHALO to St. Michael’s Cub Scouts Troop #79 for the new parking lot signs. Our cub scouts are Okeah Cassar, Jason Wehren, Evan Wehren, Kylo James Rabanes, Naveah Galigo, and John Caudell. Den Leaders are Kelsie Wehren and Richard Cassar, Cub Master is Crystal Peters.

One thing this reveals is the awesome responsibility we all have to bring the love and mercy of the Father in Heaven to those whom we encounter every day. We are able to be true instruments of God. In making such a strong connection between us, Himself and the Father in Heaven, Jesus is elevating our human dignity to an incredible level. Reflect upon the great gift it is to act as an instrument of the Father in Heaven. This is a sacred duty and a profound privilege we must not take lightly. Look also for ways that the Father speaks to you through others. When He speaks, give Him your full attention and be grateful for those who act as these instruments of God’s love. Lord, I thank You for the honor and privilege of serving as an instrument of Your holy voice. May I always seek to embrace this calling with faith and sincerity. May I also be open to every way that You speak to me through others. Give me the humility I need to listen to Your voice through them. Jesus, I trust in You. catholic-daily-reflections.com

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51 Lord, thank You for the gift of the Archangels whom we honor today. Thank You for their powerful work in our lives. Help us to rely upon them and to love them for their service. Archangels, pray for us, heal us, teach us and protect us. Jesus, I trust in You.

Jesus’ call is absolute. When He calls us we ought to respond with complete submission of our will and with an abundance of generosity. In our own lives, we most likely will not receive the radical call to literally leave everything behind immediately and go serve Christ in some new form of life. But the key is our willingness! Are you willing? If you are willing, you will start to discover that Jesus is daily calling you to fulfill His mission. And if you are willing, you will daily see that His mission is glorious and fruitful beyond measure. It simply comes down to you saying “Yes” without hesitation and without delay. Reflect, today, upon your willingness to follow Jesus. Put yourself into this Scripture and reflect upon how you would respond to Jesus. Most likely you will see hesitation. And if you see hesitation in your heart, try to surrender that over so that you will be ready for all our Lord has in mind for you. Lord, I do love You and I do want to follow You. Help me to overcome any and every hesitation in my life in saying “Yes” to Your holy will. Help me to discern Your voice and embrace all You say every day. Jesus, I trust in You. catholic-daily-reflections.com

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest St. Vincent de Paul spent his life preaching missions to and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them. This work became his passion. He later extended his concern and ministry to convicts. The need to evangelize and assist these souls was so great and the demands beyond his own ability to meet that he founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of women, to help, as well as a religious institute of priests - the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, commonly referred to now as the Vincentians. Saint Vincent de Paul, you worked tirelessly for the poor, orphans, and widows. You gathered around yourself numerous helpers. Your primary motivation was not social justice, but the pure will of God. Inspire us to be so committed, so dedicated, and so faithful. Reflection: The Church is for all God’s children, rich and poor, peasants and scholars, the sophisticated and the simple. But obviously the greatest concern of the Church must be for those who need the most help—those made helpless by sickness, poverty, ignorance, or cruelty. Vincent de Paul is a particularly appropriate patron for all Christians today, when hunger has become starvation, and the high living of the rich stands in more and more glaring contrast to the physical and moral degradation in which many of God’s children are forced to live.

Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Why would the Apostles try to prevent someone from casting a demon out in Jesus’ name? Jesus was not concerned about it and, in fact, tells them not to prevent him. So why were the Apostles concerned? Most likely because of jealousy. The jealousy we see in this case among the Apostles is one that can creep into the Church at times. It has to do with a desire for power and control. The Apostles were upset because the person casting out demons did not follow in their company. In other words, the Apostles were not able to be in charge of this person. In this case, with the Apostles, Jesus is quite understanding and compassionate about the whole thing. But He is also quite clear. “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” Do you see things in life this way? When someone does well do you rejoice or are you negative? When another does good things in Jesus’ name, does that fill your heart with gratitude that God is using that person for good or do you get envious? catholic-daily-reflections.com