Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

A very blessed Sunday, buona Domenica, and a blessed Mother’s Day 2021!

I want to have a brief conversation about love this morning. God, present in scripture, tells us today, “Remain in my love,” to love one another. The Ten Commandments, likewise presented in scripture, were given to Moses upon the mountain, not as recommendations or suggestions, but as commandments, given by God himself, intended for us to keep. Jesus then gives us the summarizing Greatest Commandments: love of God and love of our brothers and sisters as we love ourselves, not as suggestions but again, as commandments.

People sometimes share with me, “Let’s return to the basics!” They suggest studying scripture, studying the Catechism, to go so far as to memorize teachings of the Church. My response is this: “Knowing scripture is of course tremendously important, as is the Catechism, our morality, even memorization if you are so inclined. But we must add, not as a footnote, but at the very core of our faith: love. Love for God. Love for one another. Not suggestions, recommendations, but from the very mouth of God to each and every one of us.”

There was an occasion where four Deacons discussed which translations of the Bible were their favorites. One deacon advocated for the Douay-Rheims translation, having grown up with it, and loving the familiar phrasing of each passage.

The second Deacon, proclaimed that he loved the New American translation for its incorporation of more of the original Greek and Hebrew.

The third Deacon preferred to these The Good News Bible for its modern, down-to-earth approach.

And the fourth Deacon declared to the others, “I loved my mother’s translation the best!”

“We didn’t know your mother translated the Bible,” came the response in unison.

“Oh yes,” the fourth Deacon repeated to the others. “She translated sacred scripture into everyday life, and it was the most beautiful and most convincing translation I have ever known.”

I came across the writings of an 11-year-old girl, who took Psalm 23, the Lord is My Shepherd…, and she echos the sentiments of that fourth Deacon, describing how her mother modeled God for her:

“My Mom is my shepherd; I shall not want. She makes me lie down in cool, downy comforters. She watches me play beside still waters. She restores my soul.

She leads me in paths of respect, responsibility, and goodness, for I am her namesake!

Yea, even though I walk past monsters in the dark, I will not be scared, because my mom is always near me. Her hands and her voice, they comfort me.

Mama set the table and cheerfully calls me to dinner even in front of big, mean bullies (aside: hmm, she must have brothers …).

She anoints my skinned knees and broken heart with kisses. She smiles and throws me a towel when my cup runneth over.

Surely God’s peace, power, and mercy shall uphold me all the days of my life, for my mother taught me to dwell in the house of God forever.”

Yes, my brothers and sisters in Christ, Catholic Bible Study! The more we know! Yes, my brothers and sisters, the more we know about the teachings of Christ, the better off this world will be! But do not forget today’s proclamation of the importance of God’s love, our love for God, and our love for one another! It’s absolutely essential!

I say to you, as we look on this world of ours today: Shock them all! Shock them all by remaining in God’s love and delivering that love to a world in need of love for one another. And just maybe, you’ll wake some of them up. Remain in His love.

 

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Rector and Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.