SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 30, 2022

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Mt 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

REFLECTION

What is sin? Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as an offense against religious or moral law, also as a transgression of the law of God; a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church part II, Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods ... It has been defined [by St Augustine] as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law."

St. Augustine wrote his own Confessions, and in book 2, chapter 1, he says, "For there was a time in my youth when I burned with fire to experience base pleasures, and I ventured to spread and branch out into various forbidden loves. As a result the beauty of my soul was consumed, and I became putrefied in Your sight, desiring only to please myself and to be pleasing to the eyes of men.

In Chapter 4 of book 2 he says,"It was foul and I loved it; I loved to flirt with death." Then he states, "My soul was filthy, falling from Your intense love to utter ruin, as I craved not something disgraceful, but disgrace itself!"

According to St. Bernadette of Lourdes, someone who sins basically loves evil. (From the movie St. Bernadette).

In the first reading for today, the prophet Jeremiah, was sent by God to help the people to reform their ways and their deeds. And in the Gospel reading, John the Baptist also gave messages of warning and a call for repentance. This is not the news people wanted to hear, but is necessary. God wanted Herod to listen and repent.

Sin is bad. God loves us and really wants us to be close to Him.

There are many Saints that came before us, to help us to learn about ourselves so we can live for the Kingdom of God.

We recently had our PAPA Annual Retreat at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. Our PAPA Spiritual Director was the Retreat Master and he went over what a Retreat was and how with a Retreat, we could pray, examine our conscience, ask for forgiveness and travel on a pilgrimage to "the Holy of Holies - The Divine Presence". He taught us how to meditate. He explained the "Power of the Cross", and he gave us 70 Golden Nuggets from the Saints for meditation, to help us deal with our personal Cross and sin and suffering.

God loves us so much, he has sent people to help us, the holy Saints. They can help us to choose the right path and overcome our sinful nature.

All you holy Angels and Saints - Pray for us.