When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head.”  These are the words of Jesus, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke that describes well what appears to be in the air today.  There is an unrest in life today since the Pandemic: the war the Ukraine, inflation, violence in the school space we reserve for our children — the list is long.  This make us at times wonder what is going on, but the Gospel today does contain a course of proper direction for each of us; namely follow Christ now.  The great Prophet Elisha in the Old Testament followed the great Prophet Elijah right then and there.  Right then and there the apostles follow the Lord. Yes, follow our Lord, and you will find rest — even peace. 

Friday, we celebrated the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  We celebrated His Heart that invites us to go to Him.  Jesus teaches, “Come to me all you who find life burdensome,” and in His Heart you will find rest.  His heart is filled both with divine love and filled with life! I repeat: in His heart there is life, now and forever.  

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday  the  Supreme Court of the United State of America overturned the infamous 1973 case Roe vs. Wade that opened the door to unbridled abortion in our country.  Roe vs. Wade was about death, not life. It did not fit our Constitution, and now (as of last Friday) pro-life people of our land will be in a better position to defend human life in the womb. The overturning of Roe will bring a better quality and more sacred character to human life rather than death.  

Oh yes, there is great unrest in our world, in our country even at times in the Church    but there is an answer to this great unrest: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.”  Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

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

The LORD said to Elijah:
“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”

Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back!
Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat.
Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Brothers and sisters:
For freedom Christ set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters.
But do not use this freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement,
namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another,
beware that you are not consumed by one another.

I say, then: live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

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.