Today in the readings, we have Saint Paul encouraging the Corinthians to imitate his example . In the Church in Corinth there were several problems and divisions. But Saint Paul says his aim was always clear. He compares his life to that of an athlete taking part in a race — of course every athlete trains and then runs only in order to win the prize! For Saint Paul, the prize was saving others by proclaiming the Gospel to them free of charge. He says, “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel.” Dear brothers and sisters, how wonderful if we too could live our lives with this clear aim! To save others by proclaiming the Gospel to them, but, as Saint Francis of Assisi said, with our lives first, and then, when necessary, to use words . In the Gospel, Jesus warns us of a possible danger: we can become hypocrites if we preach, but do not practise it first ourselves. In today’s Eucharist, let us all pray for the grace to be preachers of the Gospel , but to first start by practising it o...
Dear brothers and sisters, A very Happy Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Today the Church celebrates with joy the birth of Mary. It is believed, according to an ancient tradition, that Mary was born of her parents, Joachim and Anne, in their advanced age. The homilies of both Saint Andrew of Crete and Saint John of Damascus, from the seventh and eighth centuries, mention this, and it has been a tradition in the Church. The Church believes that Mary was conceived without original sin and, most importantly, born and lived without sin — a work of grace . God predestined this and made it happen, as Saint Paul says in the Letter to the Romans, as we heard today: those whom He foreknew, He called; those that He called, He justified; and those He justified, He has brought into glory. What this means for us is that God has a wonderful plan for each one of us too. God does not give His special grace to Mary just for Mary. No! It is for each one of us. All the graces that God g...