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Bishop

A good image to keep before us during these final weeks of Lent and on the feasts of St. Patrick and St. Joseph is a depiction of the Trinity, which was commonly used as an altarpiece during the Middle Ages. Titled the Throne of Mercy, the painting is a vivid portrayal of God the Father holding out to the world in His outstretched arms His beloved Divine Son on a crucifix.

There are essentially four elements that define a sacrament — sign, instituted by Christ, intended to give grace and entrusted to the Church. All of these elements are essential to our spiritual lives and incorporate us into the life of Christ in a manner that bonds us to each other as members of His Church.

The liturgies of Lent are filled with references to Lent as a joyful time. At first it may seem unusual to think of Lent as a joyful time. With its emphasis on penance, conversion and reconciliation, we may tend to consider Lent in a more somber fashion. Yet, all that Lent holds truly is an opportunity for joy and not just in an analogous manner. Coming closer to God by recognizing our need for Him is indeed the most joyful and happiest of experiences.

Pope Francis once stated that “Where there is no mercy — there is no justice.” His words mean exactly the same as the episcopal motto of Cardinal O’Connor, “There can be no love without justice,” and bring light to Abraham Lincoln’s words that “Mercy bears greater fruits than strict justice” as well as the words of Martin Luther King Jr. that “Justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” During Lent, it is well for us to reflect upon the reality of justice which goes hand in hand with love.

The key to the spiritual life, indeed to life in general, is to live in the present moment, which oftentimes seems so ordinary. This is a very good practice to concentrate upon during this season of Lent. To live in the past or to live in the future is to live in a graceless moment. While it is important to look to the past and to the future, God gives us His grace for today.

The 41-day period of Lent into which we will enter on Valentine’s Day is truly a time of conversion and freedom, as we pause to listen to God speaking to us in a particular way. The usual rhythm of the Church’s life changes. She retreats from the ordinary cycle of liturgical readings and celebrations. The joyful Glorias and Alleluias are not sung and proclaimed. The color purple is generally worn for the celebration of Mass. The liturgical readings are intensely focused, and more time is set aside for acts of penance and the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

So essential is the life of consecrated persons to the Church that St. Pope John Paul II rooted consecrated life in the very life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In his apostolic exhortation, Vita Consecrata, he explained how a consecrated person, living the Gospel in the most radical manner, proclaims, “what the Father, through the Son and in the Spirit, brings about by His love, His goodness and His beauty.”

This is an important week for our Catholic schools as we celebrate their importance in the life of the Church and in our Diocese. Certainly, we can refer to our Catholic schools as “the dream that makes you dream.” We are fully committed to our Catholic schools within the Diocese of Palm Beach as a priority in terms of the life of faith and education which they give to our young people. We live in a world where we see that wolves need to be turned into lambs, and it is only our faith that can realize this dream.

The right to life of an unborn child is neither a federal nor state issue as it is a fundamental right given to us by God in accord with a very purpose for which our great nation was founded. Our country came into existence on the foundation, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, that the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is granted to all persons by God Himself. There is no legal authority that can authorize abortion as there is no legal authority which can authorize the taking of an innocent life for any reason.

At the beginning of a new year, it is well to reflect upon those qualities which were at the core of Pope Benedict’s life. Indeed, they are myriad, but I would like to reflect upon them in the words of St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians when he urges us to “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks” (5:17-18). Prayer, joy and gratitude sum up the life and legacy of Pope Benedict XVI.

It is interesting to note that, on the same week that Pope Francis delivered his message on artificial intelligence, he spoke at his Wednesday audience on a new cycle of catechesis he will give on the theme of Vices and Virtues. His introductory presentation was on the theme of “Safeguarding the Heart.” As we reflect upon the matter of artificial intelligence, it is well to do so in the context of what Pope Francis spoke about in his audience. He refers to the account of Adam and Eve, who were forbidden by God to eat of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden. The pope explains that the prohibition was not to forbid humanity the use of reason but as a measure of wisdom. Pope Francis explains, “The story tells us God establishes the progenitors as lords and guardians of creation but wants to preserve them from the presumption of omnipotence, of making themselves masters of good and evil, which is a temptation — a bad temptation, even now. This is the most dangerous pitfall for the human heart.”

The Mass and the Birth of Christ are also intimately associated because of their simplicity. We approach the crèche in faith because of the wonder of God, who became present in our human nature. We can never get too comfortable with this reality, and its simplicity only enhances the mystery. The same is true of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not an event at which we are entertained but the mystery in which we enter into the very life of Christ Himself in the most humble manner — through the transformation of simple bread and wine into His Body and Blood. St. Francis of Assisi had a great devotion to the Mass and to the Eucharist, which caused Him to cry before them just as he cried before the crèche. We need that faith within our lives as Catholics.

Advent is a time of anticipation. We are looking forward to celebrating the birth of the Lord. We are also looking forward to the Lord’s coming into our lives each day and ultimately to the coming of His Kingdom. Anticipation is based on the virtue of hope. We need to believe that tomorrow will always be better than today and that something greater is going to happen to us. The joy of looking forward to Christmas is a good and holy anticipation. Christ’s birth brings us a joy as it reminds us of God’s infinite love and mercy for us as individuals. Christ’s birth celebrates that He became one of us and that He dwells among us now — not only when He came to this earth and not only when we are with Him in heaven — but now at each and every moment.

The message of Christ has not changed, and it is only the teaching of Christ that helps us to address the problems and needs of society as well as those of our own lives. Mary was keenly aware of this. With her gaze fixed completely on God, she was able to cope with the many challenges and difficulties she encountered, especially those which came to her as the mother of the Lord. With her gaze fixed on Christ, the Church has handed on the Gospel of Christ for 2,000 years in times that have revealed the difficulties and needs of humanity in new contexts. The unchanging Gospel always answers these difficulties and needs.

November 24, 2023
Faith looks upon the cross of Jesus Christ and sees the King. The Gospel of St. John especially portrays Jesus as King as He reigns upon the cross. It is from the cross that He extends His arms over the world in an embrace of love. It is from this cross that blood and water flow upon the world from His wounded heart that we might be redeemed. As we look around the world and find war, so much strife and discord, division within our own nation, it is only God’s mercy extended to all which gives meaning and purpose. God’s power is revealed in His mercy. This is what we celebrate on the Solemnity of Christ the King, and it is for this that we are most grateful as we celebrate Thanksgiving.

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