Follow Christ: obey the Commandments; exercise Mercy -- and you will have Eternal Life.

14/7/2019

Sunday | 15 | OT | C

Vancouver, July 14, 2019

What is the difference between hearing and obeying? Obey comes from the Latin ab-audire, “listen to.” Of course, this is related to “hear,” as in -audio- audio equipment. “Obey” we know goes further than “hearing”: “obey” we think of “doing what we hear.” Why should we “obey” God? Why not ignore God? Or do the opposite of what God tells us to do? There is this sense within us, we should not be ignoring what God tells us, and certainly not doing the opposite.
“Observe His commandments,” Moses says in the Book of Deuteronomy. Sometimes people believe they do not sin, and so they, don’t go to Confession. I am not as sinner I have no need for Confession. And what comes to my mind, do they know the 10 Commandments?

1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
Who are the gods in our life? God of pleasure? God of wealth? God of power? I mention these three because they have been and remain the idols people tend to serve –philosophers for centuries – the most ancient philosophy will tell you – do not let these idols become your gods: pleasure, wealth, power.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Do not blaspheme. Do not use the name of the Lord in a way that is offensive. Blasphemy is like believing God will not react to your offensive use of His name in vain. Sooner or later God will let you know.

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are you saved?

12/7/2019

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Are you saved? A homily by Fr. David Bellusci, O.P.

Friday | 14 | OT | C

Vancouver, July 12, 2019

In the Book of Genesis we have this tremendous act of courage – and faith. Jacob sets out on his journey with his entire family, leaving Canaan, and moves towards Egypt. Jacob is given reassurance in a night vision; God calls upon Jacob, and Jacob replies with these three beautiful words: “Here I am.” Isn’t that everything that needs to be said – are there words richer than these when we communicate with God. “Here I am.” Jacob shows his presence, his disposition, his very being before God: “Here I am.” And God replies, “I am God.” Reassuring Jacob that this vision comes from God and not some evil spirit, nor is some pagan deity, but “the God of your father,” meaning, Isaac.

There is a severe drought in Canaan and Jacob is prepared to bring his entire family led by his 4th born son, Judah, to Egypt with the reassurance now of God’s presence. Jacob hopes he might still see Joseph, his second last child, as Judah had assured him. This requires trust. And hope. Jacob throws himself into the unknown and now God offers Jacob consolation reassuring Jacob, “I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.” God promises Jacob in this vision he will see his son Joseph.

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the 12 apostles

12/7/2019

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The 12 Apostles, a homily by Fr. David Bellusci, O.P.

Source: Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Wednesday | 12 | OT | C

Vancouver, July 10, 2019

Simon>Peter: The first to head the list is Simon whose name is changed to Kephas in Aramaic, in Latin Petrus or Peter, means “rock.” The one to whom Jesus Christ entrusted His Church. He was with Jesus at the Transfiguration and Jesus called upon Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter would deny knowing Jesus, then, he would offer his life for Christ in Rome where he is martyred. St. is celebrated June 29th.

Andrew: Peter’s older brother. Born in the village of Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee, like Peter, he was a fisherman. Jesus called Peter and Andrew at the same time to become fishers of men. Tradition has it Andrew went out to preach in the area of the Black Sea off the shores of Greece. Andrew was crucified in the shape of an X where we get St. Andrew’s Cross. Basilica of San Andrea della Valle in Rome depicts Andrew’s execution. We celebrate St. Andrew November 30th.

James son of Zebedee: Also known as James the Greater, he is the brother of John; the two, James and John, were with Jesus at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus called, “Peter, James, John.” We know from the Acts of the Apostles James was executed by Herod. St. James is especially celebrated in Spain, in Spanish Santiago or San Diego. He is celebrated July 25th.

John: John is listed as the youngest of the Apostles. Brother of James, the first four Apostles listed include two sets of brothers. John is also referred to as the “beloved disciple,” and the one who outlived all the other disciples, having died at Patmos. John wrote the Gospel of his name, Letters and Book of Revelation. He was with Peter and his brother James at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. His feast is December 27th.

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Joy of boasting in the Cross

9/7/2019

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Joy in Boasting in the Cross, a homily by Fr. David Bellusci, O.P.

Sunday | 14 | OT | C

Vancouver, July 7, 2019

Two weeks ago I celebrated Mass at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. And when we had our sharing the evening before our departure I asked about the highlight of the visit to the Holy Land. And certainly, Jerusalem, with Mass at the Holy Tomb, that was most commonly shared as the highly in the Holy Land.

Why is Jerusalem so special to God, and to us as Christians? We hear references through the Old Testament beginning with the Books of Samuel.

Salem means “peace,” and Jebus was the city of the Jebusites which David conquered making Jerusalem his capital and the capital of the House of Judah.

Jerusalem is where David brought the Ark of the Covenant which is a sign of God’s presence since the Ark of the Covenant contained the tablets of the 10 Commandments.

It was Solomon who had the Temple built that would house the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon David’s son. So, as capital, as the City of David where the Temple was built, Jerusalem was the point of reference for those who believed in the One True God, the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac, for the Israelites. And, of course, even for us.

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us and them

9/7/2019

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Us and Them, a homily by Fr. David Bellusci, O.P.

Friday | 13 | OT | C

Vancouver, July 5, 2019

The reading for the Book of Genesis makes it very clear that Abraham wants his son Isaac to find a wife among the Israelites who believe in the One True God and not to find a wife among the Canaanites, who were pagans with pagan practises.

An interesting dilemma: a real problem. What if the woman Isaac finds among the Israelites does not want return to “his land” referring to Canaan? Remember, the servant must go to Abraham’s country to find the wife with Isaac. So, if she does not want to leave, then what?

Abraham actually gives priority to the land over Isaac’s future wife because if she is not willing to return with Isaac to Canaan, in that case, Isaac can find a wife among the Canaanites, “you will be free from this oath.” Why is the land of Canaan so important? Because this is the land promised by God. Abraham is discerning Isaac’s future based on what God has already revealed to Abraham.

Not everyone is willing to leave their homeland to go to a new land. Abraham knows this. The servant returned to Haran with Isaac the town of Abraham’s kinfolk where Isaac met Rebecca a woman of Abraham’s family with God’s help, whom Isaac took as his wife. What stands out in Abraham’s instructions is a separation of people, Canaanites from Israelites, pagans from believers. This sense of “us” and “them.”

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Sacrificing Isaac

9/7/2019

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Sacrificing Isaac, a homily by Fr. David Bellusci, O.P.

Thursday | 13 | OT | C

Vancouver, July 4, 2019

The story of Abraham where Abraham offers his son Isaac as a sacrifice, as God had instructed, is one of the most dramatic stories in the entire Bible. This is not just a story. Child/human sacrifice was a common practise in the Canaanite religions during this period of Biblical history.

Only that Abraham’s sacrifice is in response to God asking for his son. And God says, “the son whom you love…and offer his as a sacrifice.” Isaac is the son of the promise, the son Abraham had in union with his legitimate wife, Sarah – after many years of praying for a child. The irony of the story is that after so many years of waiting for a child, the son Abraham and Sarah have by God’s very intervention, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son.

It is one of the most outstanding acts of trust we have in the Scriptures. Abraham, a man of faith, demonstrates his faith, by this very concrete and dramatic act. By faith we are saved: well, faith is very concrete.

While martyrdom means to offer your own life, which is radical love in itself, here in Genesis we have Abraham who is willing to sacrifice the life of his own beloved son. The greatest act of faith in the Old Testament.

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Authority Christ entrusts to Peter

9/7/2019

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AUTHORITY CHRIST ENTRUSTS TO PETER, a homily by Fr. David Bellusci, O.P.

Capernaum, June 19, 2019
(Homily given at the House of Peter in Capernaum)

In Capernaum by the Sea Galilee we have a Church built over the House of Peter. The readings for Mass at the Church of St. Peter are those acknowledging the Primacy of Peter from St. Matthew 16:13-18. The statue of St. Peter outside the Church in the direction of the Sea of Galilee reveals the symbol of the keys given to him by Jesus Christ, locking and unlocking Earth and Heaven.

In St. Matthew’s Gospel Jesus Christ clearly expresses the government that He intended for the Church: entrusted to one person, with authority, in this case Peter, what we call the office of the Papacy. Exercise of authority is central to Church government if we are to preserve unity in the Church. It was providential that both Peter and Paul ended their lives in Rome because the capital of the Empire had a highly efficient form of government ensuring unity in the empire, with a network of roads and ports facilitating communication.

One of the hallmarks of Catholicism willed by Jesus Himself is a Church and ensured by the Holy Spirit is unity in teachings both in dogma and morals. That is why one person received the keys to the Church: St. Peter and not all the Apostles, otherwise, Jesus could have done this. The context of this passage in Matthew, solid rock, so Simon is called Peter, in an area where solid rocks are found, not sand or desert, the area of Caesarea Philipi as we are told in verse 13 – we have solid rocks. And so Simon becomes Kepa or Kephas in Greek, Petrus in Latin from where we get “Peter.”

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Follow Christ: obey the Commandments; exercise Mercy -- and you will have Eternal Life.

are you saved?

the 12 apostles

Joy of boasting in the Cross

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