Saturday of 2nd week of LENT - The ELDER and YOUNGER son.

 1. The prodigal son.
     There was a father with two sons. Both were destined to be within the Catholic Church and merit heaven. 
     The elder son remained within the Church, in his father's house, by keeping the commands of his father; he never left the house. The younger son was tempted by the devil to love the world. So he took his inheritance which is his God-given gifts of intellect and free will, and went away to a far land, away from God, to do what he wants, enjoying the world.
      Enjoying himself in the world whose prince is Satan, he begun to starve spiritually. So he enrolled himself to work for the devil who fed him useless food like husk and sent him to work with pigs, i.e. satisfying sinners. 
      Realising his present misery and how his father was with well fed servants, he admitted his stupidity and decided to return to his father's house. 
      When arriving, his father saw him from afar and met him half-way. Embracing and kissing him and restoring him to his former honour of being a son.

2. The lesson on how to acquire the virtue of Penance. 
     The life of repentance taught during the Lenten season consist in acquiring the virtue of Penance, that is part of the Sacrament of Penance. Today, Catholics go for the Sacrament of Penance without first acquiring the virtue of Penance. The virtue is what forgives past sins. Before priest absolves a penitent he must make sure the penitent has the virtue of Penance because that is what forgives past sins. His absolution is effective only if the penitent has the virtue. Without the virtue, there is no forgiveness of sin. 

3. The two sons.
     The two sons were, at first, living with the Father in the same house. They were living within the Catholic Church in which case it can be assumed that they have learned how to acquire the virtue of Penance. That is like two monks living for many years within the monastery and so it can be assumed that they have learned how to acquire the virtue of Penance. 
     The elder son remained in the father's house, which mean he had learned how to acquire the virtue of Penance and continued to perfect his virtue of Penance.
     The younger son learned to acquire the virtue of Penance but left before he could perfect the virtue. This imperfect repentance is why he was eventually tempted by the devil to enjoy the world  and leave the father's house. 
      
4. The dynamics of sin.
     St. Augustine described sin as aversion from God and conversion towards mutable worldly desires. That is what happened to the younger son. He developed aversion in living a life obeying the commands of the father; and he was converted to the pleasures of the world. 
     This conversion towards love of worldly things brings in spiritual famine as the young son experienced. And being in the kingdom of Satan, the world, he worked for the devil by feeding pigs and himself eating the husk eaten by pigs in that everything he imbibed was utterly useless for his body and soul. 

5. The virtue of Penance acquired by the younger son.
     He begun to use his intellect and compared his worldly way of life to his life of repentance lived in his father's house. What a big difference. He saw that life in his father's house was spiritually superior. 
     Note that the younger son had formerly lived the life of repentance in his father's house. But because his repentance was incomplete the devil was able to tempt him to leave that life of repentance and instead live a life of sin. So he had a precious experience in living the life of repentance.  Therefore he knew how to return back home.
     The disadvantage of those in the world today is that they never previously lived a life of repentance even in the privacy of their homes so they would not know how to return back home. The US cardinals and bishops in the headline these days were of such. They have never previously lived the life of Penance in the seminary or anywhere else, so they do not know how to return home.
     The younger son had a previous experience so he knew how to return home; he knew how to repent again. So he stood up and said; I will return to my father and tell him I have sinned against God and against you. Treat me as one of your paid servant.
     The very essence of the virtue of Penance that forgives sin is humility. 'I have sinned against God and against you. Treat me as one of your paid servant.'When Christ was encouraging His apostles to be among the great in the kingdom He said; 'unless you become servant of all.' To be a servant of all is the sign of humility that shows true penance. The son was willing to be a servant. 

6. Note what happened next.
    The younger son returned to his father's house to say; I have sinned against God and against you, treat me as one of your paid servant.  He was showing the virtue of penance to his father.
     But even before he could confess, his father forgives, embraced and kissed him. Restoring his ring and clothes as son. Now, notice that forgiveness of sin occurred before confession.  It occurred when he acquired the virtue of Penance through his act of humility in desiring to confess and willingly become a servant. 

7. The elder son who remained faithful to his father.
     The Gospel adds this that is not connected with the idea of Penance but necessary to correct the Pharisees. Christ added that the elder son was envious and acted out. Well, children who remain with their father by obeying his commands do not get envious. So the addition to the parable of the prodigal son was not meant to teach repentance but to correct the Pharisees who were envious because Christ was eating with sinners. 
     So Christ said; 'you have no reason to be envious. In your pride you do not need me. But sinners need me so I will eat with them. That was a correction, not for the elder son, but for the Pharisees. 

8. The virtue of Penance.
     Today cardinal, bishops and priest do not have the virtue of Penance, so their sins remain in their souls. The recent US scandals show cardinals and bishops having the most perverted sins from childhood up to their dying days. They have remained in their sins in their old age though they go to confession once a week. The young son did penance only once and  he was welcomed back by his father. While the cardinals and bishops are still in a far land suffering famine.
     To acquire the virtue of Penance is the first step in the spiritual life that leads to the salvation of one's souls. It is the first thing Christ preached; 'repent, believe.' How come cardinals, bishops and the laity are not doing it. They do not know how to acquire it. Yet, today's Gospel shows how the young son did it step by step. 
      Since the virtue of Penance can stop any and all sins whatever it is, this virtue alone can solve all the problems of the world since problems are essentially  rooted in sin. Everything that is happening in the world today is the result of sin. Satan has controlled the world and have entered the Catholic Church. Thus the whole world is in decline, Pope Benedict XVI wrote, and there is nothing that can stop it. 
       
     

Thursday in LENTEN Weekday - Transitus of St. Benedict.

 1. The judgments.
     During this Lenten season, we are reading two narratives describing the judgments by God. The basis for the judgments are being emphasised in the Liturgy so no one gets it wrong. 
     One Gospel described God separating the sheeps from the goats.  The sheeps were going to heaven for a very clear reason; 'I was hungry and you gave Me to eat.' Two things here; first, that the sheep performed a spiritual work of mercy in feeding one who was hungry for the Word of God. This is commonly called the 'Bread of heaven.' Secondly, the recipient of the good works should be Christ, i.e. a person with the theological virtue of Faith. This is how St. Thomas of Aquinas commented on this Gospel from the writings of the Fathers of the Church in his 'Catena Aurea.'

     In todays Gospel, Thursday in Lenten Weekday, judgment was given to Dives, the rich man, and Lazarus, the beggar sitting at the door of Dives. The rich man was eating; the poor man was starving and with wounds. The poor man went to Abraham's bosom while the rich man went to Hades. What was the basis for the judgment?
The condemned rich man was eating and was not doing good works.  Non-Catholics are obliged to perform, at least, the corporal works of mercy. But Catholics are obliged to perform the spiritual works of mercy to people with Faith. Symbolically, the rich man did neither. 
     The poor man, on the other hand, did no wrong, but endured his suffering patiently. That is a spiritual work of mercy because to bear one's suffering is a way to make reparation for sins against God. It is an act of religion. 

2. Clearly
    Souls go to heaven because they have Charity, i.e. they have performed spiritual works of mercy. Souls go to hell, not only because they have sinned. But more so because they failed to perform the works of mercy. This is clear in the two judgment narratives. souls go to hell, not for their sins, but for neglecting the works of mercy. 
     In short, avoiding sin will just help a soul avoid hell but will not bring him to heaven. It is works of Charity that brings soul to heaven. Thus the adage; 'avoid evil and do good.'

3. St. Benedict.
    The Holy Rule of St. Benedict is precisely a rule of life on how to do these two acts;  avoiding evil and doing good works. The first, avoiding evil is accomplished by the monastic practice of 'fleeing from the world.' One must leave the world. Why? Because Satan is the prince of the world. As long as you are a vassal of Satan he will always command you to do evil. He will even possess your soul to force it to do evil. In the world, it will be nearly impossible for a soul to escape doing evil. It cannot even repent properly because the atmosphere is not conducive to it. 
     So St. Benedict writes that to be able to take the first step in the spiritual life, i.e. repentance, one must leave the world, 'fuga mundo.' Christ required this from the young rich man, from the apostles, from married couples like Ananias and Sapphire, i.e. from everyone. 
     Then what? Then one enters the monastic life to acquire the virtue of repentance for the forgiveness of past sins. At the same time, the virtue of penance prevents the soul from relapsing into sin. That is a very good start. 
     From there, the soul proceeds to the attainment of perfect Faith and the beginnings of Charity. He is well on the way to the salvation of his soul.  
     Monasticism is the movement in early Christianity when laypeople begun to seriously live their Catholic Faith. These are mere lay people who became 'therapeutae.' With the help of God, they cured their sick souls. 
      When a monk leaves the world, he left all the sins that go along with a worldly life. When he enters a monastery, he should have left all his sins. In the monastery, he repents for past sins because it is next to impossible to repent in the world. People there boasts of their sin. 
     After acquiring the virtue of Penance, they proceed to the perfection of Faith and the beginnings of Charity.
      Today, it is not surprising that bishops and diocesan priests sin. They are still living in the kingdom of Satan, the prince of the world. What do you expect? They have to obey their prince. But sadly, even those in the monastery are still living in sin.  The news from St. John's Abbey are as bad as the news from the US Catholic bishop's conference. 

4. We are living in evil times. 
     Everyone wants to get rich and live like Dives. In the process of getting rich they neglect the corporal and spiritual good works. There is great physical poverty even in the wealthiest nations, when even the resources of one rich man can feed all the poor of that nation. But there is greater spiritual poverty even among cardinals, bishops, theologians and even in the Vatican. Everyone is behaving like Dives....and will certainly end up with Dives.
      And our loved ones in the world are like the five brothers of Dives. Who will save them? Lazarus? They have the Internet, the cell phones, the books, the magazines. They have the Gospel and the correct interpretation of the Gospel taken from the Fathers of the Church. They have everything from where they can learn how to save their souls. God will send them no one else. Not even a Pope, Abraham said.
       
5. The Gospel presents a problem and the solution.
     Dives had a big problem; he was going to hell. The Catholic Church gives the solution summarised in the Holy Rule of St. Benedict which the saint described as the banner of Christ the King, under which we must do battle. The war is on.  But many cannot find the banner of Christ the King. Well, try going to the Holy Rule of St. Benedict whose 'Transitus' we are celebrating today. 
      

The perfection of the FAITH of ST. JOSEPH. Wednesday of the Lenten Weekday.

 1. The perfection of the Faith of St. Joseph. 
      The Gopel is showing us the perfect Faith of St. Joseph for our imitation. 
      Faith in Jesus Christ consist in believing that He was perfect man and the Son of God. Those truths must go together. To believe in one and deny the other is heresy. Some Protestants believe that Christ is man but He is not God or that He just became the Son of God later on in life. That is a heresy. Few believe that He is God and not a man, which is, also, a heresy.  
       The mystery of the hypostatic union had always been a problem in the Church. The problem is based in the ability of men to understand the human aspect of the person of Christ; but they are unable to rise up to the level of the supernatural to understand the Divinity of Christ. 
        To know Christ as man needs only an intelligent man. To know Christ as a God needs grace to rise up to the supernatural level. Christ told Peter when he confessed the Divinity of Christ; 'man has not revealed this to you but My Heavenly Father.'
         That is the problem. For lack of grace, God the Father has not revealed Christ as God to many. So people, today, think they believe that Christ is man and God. In truth, they only believe that he is man; and they know very little of his humanity. Catholics know nothing of the Divinity of Christ for lack of grace.  They know little of the humanity of Christ due to lack of study of Divine Revelation. That is equivalent to not having Faith, the Catholic Faith. 

2. Mary and Joseph had a perfect knowledge of the humanity of Christ and supernatural  knowledge of the Divinity of Christ. They had the perfect Faith necessary for salvation. And they are set up as an example for the entire Catholic world.
    There was never a moment when they ever looked as Christ as man alone or as God alone. They had the difficult task of looking at Christ as man and God. This is like having half a mind in the natural level to see Christ as man; and the other half in the supernatural level to see Christ as God. It is an impossible philo-supernatural action. 

3. Jesus was lost in the temple. 
    Joseph and Mary saw Christ as Man and, therefore, capable of being lost from them due to some neglect on their part. And on one trip back home from their journey from the temple, Joseph lost sight of Him. Inquiring from the women in the group, Mary have, also, lost sight of Him. Both Joseph and Mary were at a lost as to what happened. So they returned to Jerusalem.
     Joseph and Mary's Faith tells them that Jesus was not physically around with the pilgrims. That is considering the fact that Christ was man. But they, also, knew that Christ was God. And God doesn't get lost even in Jerusalem or anywhere else. 
     So what does their perfect Faith tells them? Their supernatural and theological Faith tells them that Jesus Christ had already ascended into Heaven as He had prophesied and would return soon to judge the world. 
     Through their perfect Faith, Joseph and Mary knew that; But it was not yet time for that. So they found Christ in the temple with the Scribes and teachers of the law. Teaching all men that if they want to find Christ, it must be in the temple, i.e. the Mystical Body of Christ, among the doctors and fathers of the Church.

     Having showed their knowledge of the humanity and Divinity of Jesus, Christ, in turn, shows His humanity and Divinity. His humanity in that He was asking questions as children should do. He was not instructing the teachers. 
     And when Mary asked why He was not among the pilgrims. 
Christ, answered showing His Divinity; 'did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?'

      Then Christ continues to show His humanity.  Joseph and Mary continues to treat Him as a human. Christ went back with them and was subject to them. 
       Then Christ shows His Divinity by growing in grace. And showed His humanity by growing in age. 

4. The interplay between humanity and Divinity.
     Today, there is no belief in the humanity and divinity of Christ. Catholics do not believe that Christ exists in His humanity in the Mystical Body of Christ. They only see Christ as a historical figure who existed once upon a time. Nor do they believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist in His humanity. They do not treat the Sacred Host as a human being, but only as a piece of Bread. 
     Neither do anyone treat Christ as a God. We do not believe that Christ is the author of life and death. Both are in the hands of God. No one dies without God's permission and no one is born without God's permission. Man thinks these powers are in his own hands.
     Man does not believe that God controls the weather. By this time experience tells us that the weather is an act of God. And yet the whole world, including the Vatican think they can control global warming. God gives a bad weather as a chastisement and a good weather as a reward. 
      In an election, man may campaign and give speeches but it is God who decides who will be the head of a nation. A good man as a reward or a bad man as a punishment.
      Evil men believe they can get away with their crimes. But there is a Divine God who will reward the good and punish the evil with eternal fire. 
      
      Most Catholics, together with the whole mankind, do not believe that there is a Jesus that is man and God. There is no Faith in the face of the earth as Christ, Himself, had prophesied. 
      In fact, many think Christ is just a pagan god or even a devil as the Jews thought. Among Catholics He is only a historical figure. 
'Who do people think I am? Asked Jesus Christ?' Even the Jews answered; 'maybe Elias, or a prophet.' It was a problem even at the time of Christ.  But you My disciples. Who do you say am I? And Peter answered; 'you are Christ, the man. And you are the Son of the Living God, therefore, also, a God.
       And Christ, 'Peter, no man has told you that. But My Father in Heaven.' See the problem. God is no longer revealing Christ as man and God to man.

5. Joseph and Mary.
    When Christ was a baby, Joseph and Mary saw Him as a man born of a human mother. But they also saw Him as a God because He was born of the Holy Spirit and Angels and Magi guided by a star rendered Him worship.
     In today's Mass, Joseph and Mary lost sight of Christ as a man. But they thought that Christ has ascended to heaven as God. In a while, they will see Him as a man questioning the wise men in the temple. The suddenly they see Him answering their questions as a God. Then they will bring Him home as a man to grow in age. But they will, also, see Him as a God growing in grace. 
      We don't hear such descriptions anymore these days. Not even from the Vatican nor from bishops and priests. But these are words full of perfect Faith. 

6. St. John's warning.
     St. John, the beloved Evangelist of Jesus Christ warns the Christian community during his times writing; 'children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was  coming, so now many antichrists had appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. They went out from us but they were not really of our number. 
      This anti-christ will describe the christ with all the right words from Scriptures. But he will not describe Him as a true man and as a true God. 

The perfection of the FAITH of ST. JOSEPH. Wednesday of the Lenten Weekday.

 1. The perfection of the Faith of St. Joseph. 
      The Gopel is showing us the perfect Faith of St. Joseph for our imitation. 
      Faith in Jesus Christ consist in believing that He was perfect man and the Son of God. Those truths must go together. To believe in one and deny the other is heresy. Some Protestants believe that Christ is man but He is not God or that He just became the Son of God later on in life. That is a heresy. Few believe that He is God and not a man, which is, also, a heresy.  
       The mystery of the hypostatic union had always been a problem in the Church. The problem is based in the ability of men to understand the human aspect of the person of Christ; but they are unable to rise up to the level of the supernatural to understand the Divinity of Christ. 
        To know Christ as man needs only an intelligent man. To know Christ as a God needs grace to rise up to the supernatural level. Christ told Peter when he confessed the Divinity of Christ; 'man has not revealed this to you but My Heavenly Father.'
         That is the problem. For lack of grace, God the Father has not revealed Christ as God to many. So people, today, think they believe that Christ is man and God. In truth, they only believe that he is man; and they know very little of his humanity. Catholics know nothing of the Divinity of Christ for lack of grace.  They know little of the humanity of Christ due to lack of study of Divine Revelation. That is equivalent to not having Faith, the Catholic Faith. 

2. Mary and Joseph had a perfect knowledge of the humanity of Christ and supernatural  knowledge of the Divinity of Christ. They had the perfect Faith necessary for salvation. And they are set up as an example for the entire Catholic world.
    There was never a moment when they ever looked as Christ as man alone or as God alone. They had the difficult task of looking at Christ as man and God. This is like having half a mind in the natural level to see Christ as man; and the other half in the supernatural level to see Christ as God. It is an impossible philo-supernatural action. 

3. Jesus was lost in the temple. 
    Joseph and Mary saw Christ as Man and, therefore, capable of being lost from them due to some neglect on their part. And on one trip back home from their journey from the temple, Joseph lost sight of Him. Inquiring from the women in the group, Mary have, also, lost sight of Him. Both Joseph and Mary were at a lost as to what happened. So they returned to Jerusalem.
     Joseph and Mary's Faith tells them that Jesus was not physically around with the pilgrims. That is considering the fact that Christ was man. But they, also, knew that Christ was God. And God doesn't get lost even in Jerusalem or anywhere else. 
     So what does their perfect Faith tells them? Their supernatural and theological Faith tells them that Jesus Christ had already ascended into Heaven as He had prophesied and would return soon to judge the world. 
     Through their perfect Faith, Joseph and Mary knew that; But it was not yet time for that. So they found Christ in the temple with the Scribes and teachers of the law. Teaching all men that if they want to find Christ, it must be in the temple, i.e. the Mystical Body of Christ, among the doctors and fathers of the Church.

     Having showed their knowledge of the humanity and Divinity of Jesus, Christ, in turn, shows His humanity and Divinity. His humanity in that He was asking questions as children should do. He was not instructing the teachers. 
     And when Mary asked why He was not among the pilgrims. 
Christ, answered showing His Divinity; 'did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?'

      Then Christ continues to show His humanity.  Joseph and Mary continues to treat Him as a human. Christ went back with them and was subject to them. 
       Then Christ shows His Divinity by growing in grace. And showed His humanity by growing in age. 

4. The interplay between humanity and Divinity.
     Today, there is no belief in the humanity and divinity of Christ. Catholics do not believe that Christ exists in His humanity in the Mystical Body of Christ. They only see Christ as a historical figure who existed once upon a time. Nor do they believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist in His humanity. They do not treat the Sacred Host as a human being, but only as a piece of Bread. 
     Neither do anyone treat Christ as a God. We do not believe that Christ is the author of life and death. Both are in the hands of God. No one dies without God's permission and no one is born without God's permission. Man thinks these powers are in his own hands.
     Man does not believe that God controls the weather. By this time experience tells us that the weather is an act of God. And yet the whole world, including the Vatican think they can control global warming. God gives a bad weather as a chastisement and a good weather as a reward. 
      In an election, man may campaign and give speeches but it is God who decides who will be the head of a nation. A good man as a reward or a bad man as a punishment.
      Evil men believe they can get away with their crimes. But there is a Divine God who will reward the good and punish the evil with eternal fire. 
      
      Most Catholics, together with the whole mankind, do not believe that there is a Jesus that is man and God. There is no Faith in the face of the earth as Christ, Himself, had prophesied. 
      In fact, many think Christ is just a pagan god or even a devil as the Jews thought. Among Catholics He is only a historical figure. 
'Who do people think I am? Asked Jesus Christ?' Even the Jews answered; 'maybe Elias, or a prophet.' It was a problem even at the time of Christ.  But you My disciples. Who do you say am I? And Peter answered; 'you are Christ, the man. And you are the Son of the Living God, therefore, also, a God.
       And Christ, 'Peter, no man has told you that. But My Father in Heaven.' See the problem. God is no longer revealing Christ as man and God to man.

5. Joseph and Mary.
    When Christ was a baby, Joseph and Mary saw Him as a man born of a human mother. But they also saw Him as a God because He was born of the Holy Spirit and Angels and Magi guided by a star rendered Him worship.
     In today's Mass, Joseph and Mary lost sight of Christ as a man. But they thought that Christ has ascended to heaven as God. In a while, they will see Him as a man questioning the wise men in the temple. The suddenly they see Him answering their questions as a God. Then they will bring Him home as a man to grow in age. But they will, also, see Him as a God growing in grace. 
      We don't hear such descriptions anymore these days. Not even from the Vatican nor from bishops and priests. But these are words full of perfect Faith. 

6. St. John's warning.
     St. John, the beloved Evangelist of Jesus Christ warns the Christian community during his times writing; 'children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was  coming, so now many antichrists had appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. They went out from us but they were not really of our number. 
      This anti-christ will describe the christ with all the right words from Scriptures. But he will not describe Him as a true man and as a true God. 

Monday of the Second week of Lent. Be merciful, do not judge, do not condemn and forgive.... McCarrick

 1. The commandments of Christ in the New Testament. 
     To go to heaven we must obey the commands of God the Father found in the Old Testament and the command of Christ found in the New Testament. The Old Testament commands have been perfected by Christ in the New Testament. So we can concentrate with the New Testament.
     At this very moment,  the problem is the millions who are specifically disobeying the commands in today's Gospel with regard to Cardinal McCarrick. 
     The commands of Christ can be summarised thus; repent perfectly, receive from God the gift of perfect Faith. And receive from God the beginnings of Charity. The beginnings of Charity is what makes a soul merit everlasting life. 
     Charity can only be perfected in heaven. Here on earth, man can only receive the beginnings of Charity as a gift from God. And the highest degree of Charity possible here on earth is for man to love his enemies. 
      The previous Masses in the Lenten Liturgy have been describing how to love one's enemies. And today's Gospel, Monday of the Second week of Lent enumerates several commands of Christ referring to Love of enemies. Remember, these are commands of Charity disobedience of which can cause the lost of souls. 

2. Of course, to love one's friends is better than loving one's enemies. 
   Since there can be many other reasons for loving loved ones and friends,  love of enemies is purer Charity in that one cannot love one's enemies except for the love of God. In a sense, it is more meritorious, wrote St. Thomas. 
      
     Christ defined Charity in these words; 'If you love Me, keep My Commandments.' To go to heaven we must have Charity. And Charity is obedience to the commands of Christ. To obey the commands of Christ we must know what those commands are and their correct interpretation that is given exclusively by the Fathers and the doctors of the Church.

3. In today's Gospel, Monday of the second week of Lent, Christ describes what it is to love Him, obedience to His commands. The in today's Gospel He enumerates several commands by which we can show that we have reached the highest degree of Charity possible here on earth; four commands based on 
Charity by which we should love our enemies. First,  be merciful as your Father is merciful. Second,  do not judge. Thirdly, do not condemn.  And fourthly,  forgive. This is a continuation of Christ's sermon on Love of enemies.
     Let us show how most Catholics have disobeyed these commands with reference with Cardinal McCarrick. 

4. The basis of the four commands is the example God shows each of us when we win. 
     First, when we sin does Christ show us mercy or Justice? God waits and does not condemn nor punish us; but waits for us to repent. Instead He gives us ample helps for repentance. 
     Note how the Catholic world, Cardinals, bishops, priests, laymen and websites is demanding for condemnation, punishments and laization for Cardinal McCarrick. The Gospel states that we must be compassionate as the Father is compassionate. The Cardinal is old, sick and dying. And we want him to undergo all those man-made chastisements. God demands only repentance. Why are we demanding more.
     Second. Only God understands the whole case and only God can judge him justly. Why are we sitting as judge when we know very little about the case? With all the news clippings on the case, it is, still, impossible for an honest person to judge him wisely.
     Thirdly. Only God can condemn and He will do it during the General judgment. Let's just wait for that day and prepare ourselves, instead, to stand 'not guilty' on that day.
      Fourthly, and for the victims, Christ said; if you are Catholic,  'forgive.' 

5. God's warning.
    Anyone who does not obey the four above commands of Christ, Christ had promised He will treat them in exactly the same way; He won't show them any mercy, He will judge and condemn them even before they die. And He will not forgive any of their sins.  
      
6. Who is our enemies.
     Today's Gospel applies more specifically to the victims, because the Cardinal is, seemingly, their enemies in that he caused them to sin. But the Cardinal is not the enemy of the rest of the Church and the rest of the world. Why are they treating him as an enemy and in a very unCatholic way?

7. St. Thomas of Aquinas.
     St. Thomas wrote that people in the world, because of original sin, tend to disobey the above commandments of Christ. They do it to everybody; not only to their enemies. Catholics and non-Catholics are doing it to Cardinal McCarrick, who is apparently guilty. They are, also, doing it to Cardinal Pell, who evidently is not guilty. It is natural for people in the world to disobey the above commandments. Politicians do it to everybody. Judges do it that Catholics were encourage not to become judges.  Does that mean that many souls are going to hell because Christ promised He will treat them in exactly the same way? Well, just obey those commands and encourage your loved ones and friends to do the same.  And don't mind the others. 

Monday of the Second week of Lent. Be merciful, do not judge, do not condemn and forgive.... McCarrick

 1. The commandments of Christ in the New Testament. 
     To go to heaven we must obey the commands of God the Father found in the Old Testament and the command of Christ found in the New Testament. The Old Testament commands have been perfected by Christ in the New Testament. So we can concentrate with the New Testament.
     At this very moment,  the problem is the millions who are specifically disobeying the commands in today's Gospel with regard to Cardinal McCarrick. 
     The commands of Christ can be summarised thus; repent perfectly, receive from God the gift of perfect Faith. And receive from God the beginnings of Charity. The beginnings of Charity is what makes a soul merit everlasting life. 
     Charity can only be perfected in heaven. Here on earth, man can only receive the beginnings of Charity as a gift from God. And the highest degree of Charity possible here on earth is for man to love his enemies. 
      The previous Masses in the Lenten Liturgy have been describing how to love one's enemies. And today's Gospel, Monday of the Second week of Lent enumerates several commands of Christ referring to Love of enemies. Remember, these are commands of Charity disobedience of which can cause the lost of souls. 

2. Of course, to love one's friends is better than loving one's enemies. 
   Since there can be many other reasons for loving loved ones and friends,  love of enemies is purer Charity in that one cannot love one's enemies except for the love of God. In a sense, it is more meritorious, wrote St. Thomas. 
      
     Christ defined Charity in these words; 'If you love Me, keep My Commandments.' To go to heaven we must have Charity. And Charity is obedience to the commands of Christ. To obey the commands of Christ we must know what those commands are and their correct interpretation that is given exclusively by the Fathers and the doctors of the Church.

3. In today's Gospel, Monday of the second week of Lent, Christ describes what it is to love Him, obedience to His commands. The in today's Gospel He enumerates several commands by which we can show that we have reached the highest degree of Charity possible here on earth; four commands based on 
Charity by which we should love our enemies. First,  be merciful as your Father is merciful. Second,  do not judge. Thirdly, do not condemn.  And fourthly,  forgive. This is a continuation of Christ's sermon on Love of enemies.
     Let us show how most Catholics have disobeyed these commands with reference with Cardinal McCarrick. 

4. The basis of the four commands is the example God shows each of us when we win. 
     First, when we sin does Christ show us mercy or Justice? God waits and does not condemn nor punish us; but waits for us to repent. Instead He gives us ample helps for repentance. 
     Note how the Catholic world, Cardinals, bishops, priests, laymen and websites is demanding for condemnation, punishments and laization for Cardinal McCarrick. The Gospel states that we must be compassionate as the Father is compassionate. The Cardinal is old, sick and dying. And we want him to undergo all those man-made chastisements. God demands only repentance. Why are we demanding more.
     Second. Only God understands the whole case and only God can judge him justly. Why are we sitting as judge when we know very little about the case? With all the news clippings on the case, it is, still, impossible for an honest person to judge him wisely.
     Thirdly. Only God can condemn and He will do it during the General judgment. Let's just wait for that day and prepare ourselves, instead, to stand 'not guilty' on that day.
      Fourthly, and for the victims, Christ said; if you are Catholic,  'forgive.' 

5. God's warning.
    Anyone who does not obey the four above commands of Christ, Christ had promised He will treat them in exactly the same way; He won't show them any mercy, He will judge and condemn them even before they die. And He will not forgive any of their sins.  
      
6. Who is our enemies.
     Today's Gospel applies more specifically to the victims, because the Cardinal is, seemingly, their enemies in that he caused them to sin. But the Cardinal is not the enemy of the rest of the Church and the rest of the world. Why are they treating him as an enemy and in a very unCatholic way?

7. St. Thomas of Aquinas.
     St. Thomas wrote that people in the world, because of original sin, tend to disobey the above commandments of Christ. They do it to everybody; not only to their enemies. Catholics and non-Catholics are doing it to Cardinal McCarrick, who is apparently guilty. They are, also, doing it to Cardinal Pell, who evidently is not guilty. It is natural for people in the world to disobey the above commandments. Politicians do it to everybody. Judges do it that Catholics were encourage not to become judges.  Does that mean that many souls are going to hell because Christ promised He will treat them in exactly the same way? Well, just obey those commands and encourage your loved ones and friends to do the same.  And don't mind the others. 

The VIRTUE of Penance within the Sarament of Penance.

  
1. Every problem in the world has a spiritual root.
    Every worldly problem has a vice and sin as its root. The problem coming out of the sin is God's punishment for the sin according to St. Thomas of Aquinas. Thus drug addiction is a punishment for the vice of gluttony and original sin. 
     The problem arising from the sin is God's way of discouraging a soul from going further into more grievous sins. If the soul insists on proceeding, then more problems in the form of chastisement is given by God to the soul in an attempt to discourage the soul from sinning further. If the soul insists in continuing in his evil acts, then St. Paul wrote, the souls is delivered by God to Satan 'for the destruction of his body', and in the hope that experiencing slavery to Satan, the soul might .....repent. Repentance, the cure, is the goal of the actions of God in allowing the soul to descend further into more serious sins.
     To avoid all worldly problems, this Lenten season invites all men to repentance. 

2. All problems in the world, since they are all rooted in some evil, can be solved by an act of repentance. From sodomy, to abuse of children, from terrorism to graft and corruption, from adultery to mere smoking........all can be cured by Repentance....more specifically by the virtue of repentance. A perfect act of repentance can completely eradicate a sin from the soul that it never returns. 

3. The virtue is part of the Sacrament. 
     There is the Sacrament of Penance well known to all Catholics but completely neglected these days because all Catholics do not receive the benefits of the virtue of Penance within it, due to very poor instructions on the Sacrament. Because of the great ignorance on the theology of this Sacrament, no benefit accrues from it and it is completely set aside. And this is the cause of all the problems in the world today.....unable to have their past sins forgiven, the problem of evil is covering the face of the earth. Because Catholics do not know how to acquire the virtue of Penance that forgives and eradicates all past sins. 
     Ordinarily, a person must first acquire the virtue of Penance before he goes for the Sacrament of Penance. When a man confesses to a priest, the priests absolves him from his sins if he sees the person possessing the virtue of Penance; thus saying 'your sins are forgiven thee,' because of the virtue of Penance that you possess. 
     St. Augustine complains of bad priests, who unable to discern the presence or absence of the virtue in a soul would simply absolve and absolve. Thus creating 'walking dead,' i.e persons who are physically alive but spiritually dead. Because they absolve souls without the virtue of Penance thus with unforgiven sins remaining.

4. The state of the world.
     This is the state of the world; unable to attain the virtue of Penance due to ignorance, the world had been delivered by God to the devil for the destruction of their bodies in the hope of future conversion. This is a state wherein the soul is enslaved by sin that dictates all the actions of the people. 
      This doctrine is exclusively possessed by the Catholic Church but this unrepentant state of the world is, now,  shared by the Church, especially in her Cardinals and bishops that now fill up the headlines. Members of the hierarchy that are enslaved by Sodomy and sexual perversion against children and having same sex. Enslaved since their seminary days, they are still enslaved up to now after their retirement. All because they do not know how to free themselves from that enslavement through  the easy and simple act of repentance by gaining the virtue of Penance. 
       There is absolute no other way of getting out of this predicament except by that old age cure of living intensely the monastic life in all its austerity which is the ordinary way of gaining the virtue of Penance. 

5. The monastic life is not an invention of man.
     It is the very hidden life lived by Christ for 30 years before He went to the desert to show its effectiveness by overcoming all the temptations of the devil.
      Our cardinals, bishops and priests are easy prey to the devil because they have never lived the  30 years hidden life of Christ. They forgot that that is the first step in the following of Christ; all those 30 years of hidden life. That is the model of the monastic life whose primary goal is acquiring the virtue of Penance that forgive all past sins to the point that those sins never return again in the soul. 
       The reason why those sins of sodomy keeps on coming back from seminary days up to the present when priests are already cardinals and bishops is because they do not have the virtue to Penance. Their weekly Sacramental confession never had the element of the virtue of Penance. Their weekly confession were a useless physical gesture of sorrow with absolutely no spiritual benefit just like all their seminary functions. 
       
6. The virtue of Penance.
      The Sacrament of Penance  is largely neglected today because Catholics do not know how to repent properly. It is still observed very faithfully in very few places like Maria Vesperbild. But it is not clear from the news if there is emphasis in acquiring the virtue of Penance. 

7.  These are the steps to acquire the virtue of Penance for the forgiveness of sins. 
          First, the penitent must know all the  sins they have committed. God forgives all sins together; never partially. And all sins are forgiven by God if the penitent is repentant for all his sins taken collectively.  Since sins are disobediences to the commands of Christ, he must know the commands of Christ which he has disobeyed. HOW? Through the Liturgy. The Sunday Gospels describes the commandments of Christ. The one year cycle will describe all the commandments of Christ. So each penitent can find our every Sunday what command of Christ did they obey or disobeyed. And keep in mind the ones they have disobeyed. At the end of the Liturgical Year, without having to recall all the sins they have disobeyed, though it is better if they do, they should repent for all of them. 
        
          Secondly, the penitent must be sorry for all his sins for only one reason; because they have disobeyed the commandments of Christ. To do this the penitent must know the commandments of Christ and its correct interpretation and see how he disobeyed THE COMMAND OR ITS INTERPRETATION.  The 10 commands of the Old Testament are acts that lead to virtues. But the commands of Christ in the New testament are acts of virtues. One of them is Penance, when Christ commanded us 'to repent.'
          Thirdly, the penitent must hate or dislike the sins. St. Augustine defined good thus; conversion towards God and aversion towards worldly or mutable goods. Evil or sin is defined as conversion towards mutable or worldly goods and aversion from God. To hate sin means to have aversion towards the world, or to dislike mutable goods. This is essential to acquire the virtue of Penance.
           Fourthly, the penitent must promise as a result of hatred for sins, not to repeat those sins. 
           Fifthly, the penitent must make reparations for those sins; like to willingly undergo sufferings as payment for his sins. 

8. These cannot become virtues overnight.
     These five steps must done unceasingly for a lifetime through a discipline way of life called monasticism, before it becomes a virtue that forgive all past sins to a point that those sins will never return to the soul of the penitent. At last the penitent is free from the devil of evil and has become 'an adopted son of God.' This is a work of grace through the grace of the virtue of Penance. The whole process is an act of God. It is not an act of man.

   
     

    

      

The VIRTUE of Penance within the Sarament of Penance.

  
1. Every problem in the world has a spiritual root.
    Every worldly problem has a vice and sin as its root. The problem coming out of the sin is God's punishment for the sin according to St. Thomas of Aquinas. Thus drug addiction is a punishment for the vice of gluttony and original sin. 
     The problem arising from the sin is God's way of discouraging a soul from going further into more grievous sins. If the soul insists on proceeding, then more problems in the form of chastisement is given by God to the soul in an attempt to discourage the soul from sinning further. If the soul insists in continuing in his evil acts, then St. Paul wrote, the souls is delivered by God to Satan 'for the destruction of his body', and in the hope that experiencing slavery to Satan, the soul might .....repent. Repentance, the cure, is the goal of the actions of God in allowing the soul to descend further into more serious sins.
     To avoid all worldly problems, this Lenten season invites all men to repentance. 

2. All problems in the world, since they are all rooted in some evil, can be solved by an act of repentance. From sodomy, to abuse of children, from terrorism to graft and corruption, from adultery to mere smoking........all can be cured by Repentance....more specifically by the virtue of repentance. A perfect act of repentance can completely eradicate a sin from the soul that it never returns. 

3. The virtue is part of the Sacrament. 
     There is the Sacrament of Penance well known to all Catholics but completely neglected these days because all Catholics do not receive the benefits of the virtue of Penance within it, due to very poor instructions on the Sacrament. Because of the great ignorance on the theology of this Sacrament, no benefit accrues from it and it is completely set aside. And this is the cause of all the problems in the world today.....unable to have their past sins forgiven, the problem of evil is covering the face of the earth. Because Catholics do not know how to acquire the virtue of Penance that forgives and eradicates all past sins. 
     Ordinarily, a person must first acquire the virtue of Penance before he goes for the Sacrament of Penance. When a man confesses to a priest, the priests absolves him from his sins if he sees the person possessing the virtue of Penance; thus saying 'your sins are forgiven thee,' because of the virtue of Penance that you possess. 
     St. Augustine complains of bad priests, who unable to discern the presence or absence of the virtue in a soul would simply absolve and absolve. Thus creating 'walking dead,' i.e persons who are physically alive but spiritually dead. Because they absolve souls without the virtue of Penance thus with unforgiven sins remaining.

4. The state of the world.
     This is the state of the world; unable to attain the virtue of Penance due to ignorance, the world had been delivered by God to the devil for the destruction of their bodies in the hope of future conversion. This is a state wherein the soul is enslaved by sin that dictates all the actions of the people. 
      This doctrine is exclusively possessed by the Catholic Church but this unrepentant state of the world is, now,  shared by the Church, especially in her Cardinals and bishops that now fill up the headlines. Members of the hierarchy that are enslaved by Sodomy and sexual perversion against children and having same sex. Enslaved since their seminary days, they are still enslaved up to now after their retirement. All because they do not know how to free themselves from that enslavement through  the easy and simple act of repentance by gaining the virtue of Penance. 
       There is absolute no other way of getting out of this predicament except by that old age cure of living intensely the monastic life in all its austerity which is the ordinary way of gaining the virtue of Penance. 

5. The monastic life is not an invention of man.
     It is the very hidden life lived by Christ for 30 years before He went to the desert to show its effectiveness by overcoming all the temptations of the devil.
      Our cardinals, bishops and priests are easy prey to the devil because they have never lived the  30 years hidden life of Christ. They forgot that that is the first step in the following of Christ; all those 30 years of hidden life. That is the model of the monastic life whose primary goal is acquiring the virtue of Penance that forgive all past sins to the point that those sins never return again in the soul. 
       The reason why those sins of sodomy keeps on coming back from seminary days up to the present when priests are already cardinals and bishops is because they do not have the virtue to Penance. Their weekly Sacramental confession never had the element of the virtue of Penance. Their weekly confession were a useless physical gesture of sorrow with absolutely no spiritual benefit just like all their seminary functions. 
       
6. The virtue of Penance.
      The Sacrament of Penance  is largely neglected today because Catholics do not know how to repent properly. It is still observed very faithfully in very few places like Maria Vesperbild. But it is not clear from the news if there is emphasis in acquiring the virtue of Penance. 

7.  These are the steps to acquire the virtue of Penance for the forgiveness of sins. 
          First, the penitent must know all the  sins they have committed. God forgives all sins together; never partially. And all sins are forgiven by God if the penitent is repentant for all his sins taken collectively.  Since sins are disobediences to the commands of Christ, he must know the commands of Christ which he has disobeyed. HOW? Through the Liturgy. The Sunday Gospels describes the commandments of Christ. The one year cycle will describe all the commandments of Christ. So each penitent can find our every Sunday what command of Christ did they obey or disobeyed. And keep in mind the ones they have disobeyed. At the end of the Liturgical Year, without having to recall all the sins they have disobeyed, though it is better if they do, they should repent for all of them. 
        
          Secondly, the penitent must be sorry for all his sins for only one reason; because they have disobeyed the commandments of Christ. To do this the penitent must know the commandments of Christ and its correct interpretation and see how he disobeyed THE COMMAND OR ITS INTERPRETATION.  The 10 commands of the Old Testament are acts that lead to virtues. But the commands of Christ in the New testament are acts of virtues. One of them is Penance, when Christ commanded us 'to repent.'
          Thirdly, the penitent must hate or dislike the sins. St. Augustine defined good thus; conversion towards God and aversion towards worldly or mutable goods. Evil or sin is defined as conversion towards mutable or worldly goods and aversion from God. To hate sin means to have aversion towards the world, or to dislike mutable goods. This is essential to acquire the virtue of Penance.
           Fourthly, the penitent must promise as a result of hatred for sins, not to repeat those sins. 
           Fifthly, the penitent must make reparations for those sins; like to willingly undergo sufferings as payment for his sins. 

8. These cannot become virtues overnight.
     These five steps must done unceasingly for a lifetime through a discipline way of life called monasticism, before it becomes a virtue that forgive all past sins to a point that those sins will never return to the soul of the penitent. At last the penitent is free from the devil of evil and has become 'an adopted son of God.' This is a work of grace through the grace of the virtue of Penance. The whole process is an act of God. It is not an act of man.

   
     

    

      

MONDAY Lenten weekday. THE SHEEPS AND THE GOATS.

 1. The Gospel today and the previous Gospels. 
     The previous Gospels have been dealing with the signs of the approaching General Judgment. One Gospel dealt with the wise and the foolish virgins. Two distinct separate groups; one prepared for the General Judgment by having their lamps lit and provided with extra flask of oil. They were well prepared.
     The foolish virgins had lighted lamps but did not provide themselves with extra oil. They were prepared for the coming Bridegroom but were not prepared if the Bridegroom delayed. 
     Both were prepared with lighted lamps. Both were Catholics having the lighted lamp of Faith. But one was not prepared if there was a delay. One had perfect Faith, the other did not.  
     
     Another Gospel was about the talents; one was given five, the other two, and the last was given one. Again, all were evidently Catholics because they had talents which represented the Catholic Faith. Two doubled their talent, their Faith, which is necessary to have Charity for the General Judgment. One did not double his talent; he did not reach Charity.  He was condemned. 

2. The two polarisations.
     Before the General Judgment, there will be two polarisations; the first will occur long before the second. The first is among those who have heard the Good News. The second is among those who have never heard the Good News. 
     Christ said that those who heard the Good News and believed are already saved. Those who heard but did not believe are already condemned. So there will be no need to judge them further. 

3. Those who believe have been judged as deserving of eternal life. 
     Who are those who believe? Those who have the virtue of Penance and, therefore, have perfectly repented. Because of this they will have received from God the grace by which they receive the theological virtue of Faith. Upon perfection of their Faith, God will give them the beginnings of Charity that assures their salvation. Thus there is no need to judge them in the General Judgment. St. Paul wrote; 'they will meet Christ as He descends from the heavens to judge the world. They will not be amongst those who will line up among the sheeps and goats. 

4. Those who do not believe and are already condemned. 
     These are the ones who do not believe that Christ is man and God. The Gospel states that they are already condemned. So they will not be among the goats either. Though they will join the goats to be punished, the Gospel did not say where they will be waiting while the goats are being judged. 
      
     The two above groups make up those who have heard the Words of Christ. Since the Gospel is heard by mankind all around the world because of books, TV, radio, etc...these two groups will be made up of Catholics, Protestants, pagans, atheists, etc...because all men have heard the Words of God. 

       But it is still possible that a portion of the human race have not heard the Words of God, and cannot respond by an act of Faith or unbelief. These are the ones who will line up to be divided; one at the right called sheeps. The other to the left to be referred to as goats. Who are these? Those who, for one reason or another cannot and did not hear or read the Words of God.

5. Polarised to the extremes. 
    The polarisation among those who have heard the Gospel will be to the extremes; i.e. the right will have an almost perfect knowledge of their Faith. 'To those who have, more will be given.' 
     The left will appear to know absolutely nothing about the Gospel. 'To those who do not have, the little they have will be taken away from them.'
     Those who have read or heard the Gospel will be judged while they are still alive and long before the General Judgment. It  is, in fact, happening right now seen in the phenomenon that people are going into the extremes.  Those in the middle of the continuum are beginning to slide to both extremes. Writers who used to be on the right are slowly going to the extreme left worldwide. And many unschooled are turning out to be great theologians. St. Francis of 
Assisi had  something to say about this. 

6. The sheeps and the goats. 
    Having seen the polarisation that occurs among those who have read or heard the Gospel, let us now go to the division into sheeps and goats amongst those who have not heard or read the Gospels.
     
        The Gospel for today states that Christ will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on his right hand and say; 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'
        That is predestination for you. Imagine 'from the foundation of the world.'      'For I was hungry and ye gave me to eat.' 
     Let us just take one reason why these sheeps will receive a reward prepared from the foundation of the world, and analyse it carefully. 
     The sentence mentions a 'good work,' feeding the hungry. So all those who feed the hungry, like the UN, are sheeps who will go to heaven? No! 
     St. Thomas of Aquinas wrote that Christ mentioned a corporal work of mercy. But this is inferior to the spiritual works of mercy. And in this context Christ was referring to the spiritual works of mercy. The 'food' that is being fed is the 'dogmatic truths' taught by Christ.

7. The sheep's 'good works.'
     St. Thomas describes the 'good work' as a spiritual work of mercy; meaning it is feeding the dogmatic Catholic truths to those who in turn are hungering for them. How did these souls unschooled in the school of the Gospel know these truths when they have not gone to school? 
      This is infused knowledge given freely by God to the humble of heart among those who have never heard nor read the Gospel. This knowledge with the gift of Faith given to them gratuitously by God contains knowledge of the spiritual works of mercy. 
       But their imperfect Faith kept them ignorant of Christ's humanity and divinity so they asked; 'when did we see you hungry.' 
       There were three things in them that made the sheep worthy of everlasting life. First, they had infused knowledge on what is dogmatic truths, like 'good works'. Secondly, they had Faith recognising Christ in the least of His brethren. Thirdly, they had Charity by having fed the least of the brethren of Christ with dogmatic truths. These souls unschooled in the Catholic religion have everything to attain everlasting life. 
       Note, however, that these received everything from the gratuitous grace of God that is freely given only during these times and only to the unschooled. This is not available in the theological school of Bologna. 

8.  Who and what is being fed?  The sheep  know it through infuse knowledge given to them because of their humility. 
The one being fed is not the poor, the immigrants, even one's loved ones. Christ said; 'because I was hungry.' It is Christ who is hungry and it is Christ who is being fed with what?  With dogmatic truths.
     But this is not being done to Christ directly. It is done to the 'least of the brethren of Christ.' This brethren is described By Christ as 'those who obey My commandments.' And what is fed to them? The commands of Christ which they still do not know.
     It is nearly impossible to look for such 'least of the brethren of Christ.' Only the sheeps can find them and feed them. St. Paul states that when God sees such sheeps, He sends them 'the least' precisely so that they can do their 'good works' of feeding them. 

9. The goats. 
     Who are the goats? Those who have never heard nor read the Gospels. But they are not humble. They are proud; so God does not given them the gratuitous gift of Faith. So they are ignorant of dogmatic truths especially 'good works.' So Christ says; 'I was hungry but you did not give Me to eat. 
     They have not fed the 'least of the brethren of Christ' with dogmatic truths, because they do not have that knowledge. And they do not know who are the 'least of the brethren' of Christ. 
      Note that they are goats who are going to hell, not because they have sinned, though they are filled with sin. Their sins may be excusable because they are unschooled in the Gospel. They are going to hell because they did not perform 'good works' towards the 'least.' I was hungry and they did not give Me to eat. They should know this because the Golden Rule is given to all men; 'do unto others what you want others to do unto you.' So they have no excuse to neglect this good work. They have the added disadvantage that they do not know the dogmatic truths that must be fed to the 'least of the brethren of Christ.' Because of pride they are unable to receive the gratuitous grace from God that could have saved them. 

     The sheeps and goats in today's Gospel depends on the gratuitous grace of God. It is not dependent on human efforts like studying in the theological school. This grace is given to the humble. And there are many humble souls among the unschooled.  

MONDAY Lenten weekday. THE SHEEPS AND THE GOATS.

 1. The Gospel today and the previous Gospels. 
     The previous Gospels have been dealing with the signs of the approaching General Judgment. One Gospel dealt with the wise and the foolish virgins. Two distinct separate groups; one prepared for the General Judgment by having their lamps lit and provided with extra flask of oil. They were well prepared.
     The foolish virgins had lighted lamps but did not provide themselves with extra oil. They were prepared for the coming Bridegroom but were not prepared if the Bridegroom delayed. 
     Both were prepared with lighted lamps. Both were Catholics having the lighted lamp of Faith. But one was not prepared if there was a delay. One had perfect Faith, the other did not.  
     
     Another Gospel was about the talents; one was given five, the other two, and the last was given one. Again, all were evidently Catholics because they had talents which represented the Catholic Faith. Two doubled their talent, their Faith, which is necessary to have Charity for the General Judgment. One did not double his talent; he did not reach Charity.  He was condemned. 

2. The two polarisations.
     Before the General Judgment, there will be two polarisations; the first will occur long before the second. The first is among those who have heard the Good News. The second is among those who have never heard the Good News. 
     Christ said that those who heard the Good News and believed are already saved. Those who heard but did not believe are already condemned. So there will be no need to judge them further. 

3. Those who believe have been judged as deserving of eternal life. 
     Who are those who believe? Those who have the virtue of Penance and, therefore, have perfectly repented. Because of this they will have received from God the grace by which they receive the theological virtue of Faith. Upon perfection of their Faith, God will give them the beginnings of Charity that assures their salvation. Thus there is no need to judge them in the General Judgment. St. Paul wrote; 'they will meet Christ as He descends from the heavens to judge the world. They will not be amongst those who will line up among the sheeps and goats. 

4. Those who do not believe and are already condemned. 
     These are the ones who do not believe that Christ is man and God. The Gospel states that they are already condemned. So they will not be among the goats either. Though they will join the goats to be punished, the Gospel did not say where they will be waiting while the goats are being judged. 
      
     The two above groups make up those who have heard the Words of Christ. Since the Gospel is heard by mankind all around the world because of books, TV, radio, etc...these two groups will be made up of Catholics, Protestants, pagans, atheists, etc...because all men have heard the Words of God. 

       But it is still possible that a portion of the human race have not heard the Words of God, and cannot respond by an act of Faith or unbelief. These are the ones who will line up to be divided; one at the right called sheeps. The other to the left to be referred to as goats. Who are these? Those who, for one reason or another cannot and did not hear or read the Words of God.

5. Polarised to the extremes. 
    The polarisation among those who have heard the Gospel will be to the extremes; i.e. the right will have an almost perfect knowledge of their Faith. 'To those who have, more will be given.' 
     The left will appear to know absolutely nothing about the Gospel. 'To those who do not have, the little they have will be taken away from them.'
     Those who have read or heard the Gospel will be judged while they are still alive and long before the General Judgment. It  is, in fact, happening right now seen in the phenomenon that people are going into the extremes.  Those in the middle of the continuum are beginning to slide to both extremes. Writers who used to be on the right are slowly going to the extreme left worldwide. And many unschooled are turning out to be great theologians. St. Francis of 
Assisi had  something to say about this. 

6. The sheeps and the goats. 
    Having seen the polarisation that occurs among those who have read or heard the Gospel, let us now go to the division into sheeps and goats amongst those who have not heard or read the Gospels.
     
        The Gospel for today states that Christ will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on his right hand and say; 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'
        That is predestination for you. Imagine 'from the foundation of the world.'      'For I was hungry and ye gave me to eat.' 
     Let us just take one reason why these sheeps will receive a reward prepared from the foundation of the world, and analyse it carefully. 
     The sentence mentions a 'good work,' feeding the hungry. So all those who feed the hungry, like the UN, are sheeps who will go to heaven? No! 
     St. Thomas of Aquinas wrote that Christ mentioned a corporal work of mercy. But this is inferior to the spiritual works of mercy. And in this context Christ was referring to the spiritual works of mercy. The 'food' that is being fed is the 'dogmatic truths' taught by Christ.

7. The sheep's 'good works.'
     St. Thomas describes the 'good work' as a spiritual work of mercy; meaning it is feeding the dogmatic Catholic truths to those who in turn are hungering for them. How did these souls unschooled in the school of the Gospel know these truths when they have not gone to school? 
      This is infused knowledge given freely by God to the humble of heart among those who have never heard nor read the Gospel. This knowledge with the gift of Faith given to them gratuitously by God contains knowledge of the spiritual works of mercy. 
       But their imperfect Faith kept them ignorant of Christ's humanity and divinity so they asked; 'when did we see you hungry.' 
       There were three things in them that made the sheep worthy of everlasting life. First, they had infused knowledge on what is dogmatic truths, like 'good works'. Secondly, they had Faith recognising Christ in the least of His brethren. Thirdly, they had Charity by having fed the least of the brethren of Christ with dogmatic truths. These souls unschooled in the Catholic religion have everything to attain everlasting life. 
       Note, however, that these received everything from the gratuitous grace of God that is freely given only during these times and only to the unschooled. This is not available in the theological school of Bologna. 

8.  Who and what is being fed?  The sheep  know it through infuse knowledge given to them because of their humility. 
The one being fed is not the poor, the immigrants, even one's loved ones. Christ said; 'because I was hungry.' It is Christ who is hungry and it is Christ who is being fed with what?  With dogmatic truths.
     But this is not being done to Christ directly. It is done to the 'least of the brethren of Christ.' This brethren is described By Christ as 'those who obey My commandments.' And what is fed to them? The commands of Christ which they still do not know.
     It is nearly impossible to look for such 'least of the brethren of Christ.' Only the sheeps can find them and feed them. St. Paul states that when God sees such sheeps, He sends them 'the least' precisely so that they can do their 'good works' of feeding them. 

9. The goats. 
     Who are the goats? Those who have never heard nor read the Gospels. But they are not humble. They are proud; so God does not given them the gratuitous gift of Faith. So they are ignorant of dogmatic truths especially 'good works.' So Christ says; 'I was hungry but you did not give Me to eat. 
     They have not fed the 'least of the brethren of Christ' with dogmatic truths, because they do not have that knowledge. And they do not know who are the 'least of the brethren' of Christ. 
      Note that they are goats who are going to hell, not because they have sinned, though they are filled with sin. Their sins may be excusable because they are unschooled in the Gospel. They are going to hell because they did not perform 'good works' towards the 'least.' I was hungry and they did not give Me to eat. They should know this because the Golden Rule is given to all men; 'do unto others what you want others to do unto you.' So they have no excuse to neglect this good work. They have the added disadvantage that they do not know the dogmatic truths that must be fed to the 'least of the brethren of Christ.' Because of pride they are unable to receive the gratuitous grace from God that could have saved them. 

     The sheeps and goats in today's Gospel depends on the gratuitous grace of God. It is not dependent on human efforts like studying in the theological school. This grace is given to the humble. And there are many humble souls among the unschooled.  

Monday in 8th Weekday in Ordinary time - What must I do to have eternal life.

 1. What must I do to have eternal life. 
     The young rich man was truly desirous to find out what he must do to have eternal life. Christ gives three answers. First, he must observe the commandments. Secondly, he must observe the evangelical counsels and thirdly, he must obey God's inspirations.
     The answer of Jesus was tantamount to showing the young rich the three sources of God's Will. First, the Will of God the Father as expressed in the Old Testament. Secondly, the Will of God the Son in the New Testament. And thirdly, the Will of the Holy Spirit as expressed after Pentecost. 

2. The Will of God the Father.
     The Will of God the Father is expressed in summary form in the 10 commandment of God as given to Moses. The Will of God the Son, Jesus Christ is scattered all over the New Testament Gospels and in the Evangelical counsels, also found in the Gospel. The Will of God the Holy Spirit is expressed to a very few; to people who have already perfectly obeyed the Will of the Father and the Will of God the Son. 
      To attain eternal life or the salvation of our soul, we must perfectly obey the Will of God the Father as found in the 10 commandments. To be able to obey these commands perfectly, Christ said we must, also, obey the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. 
       So, in effect, to assure the salvation of our souls, we must obey both the Old Testament commands and the evangelical counsels. The words of Christ are clear. Upon asked what he should do to have eternal life, Christ answered 'obey the commandments'. Then Christ added 'but there is something else that is lacking.'Then Christ added; 'go home, sell all your things and give it to the poor.' That is the spirit of poverty, an evangelical counsel. 
       When Peter asked Christ what the apostles will receive in following Him. Christ added; ' he who leave father, mother, brothers and sister.' adding the observance of the evangelical counsel chastity. And; 'come follow Me,' adding further the evangelical counsel of obedience. 

3. Catholics do not know this.
     From the very words of Christ, if examined carefully, Christ said that to have eternal life or to go to heaven, we must observe all the commandments and the Evangelical Counsels. To very few are given the commands of the God the Holy Spirit commonly called inspirations. 
     For example, the command given to St. Simeon the Stylite to pray on top of a high pillar. This is not a command of God for all. It is neither a part of the Evangelical counsels. It is a very special inspiration from God. Even to be a priest is an inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Many priests are priests without any inspiration coming from God the Holy Spirit. There is nothing wrong with that except that it is tantamount to becoming a priest by doing one's own will rather than obeying God's Will.
     This doing of God's Will is tricky. Even the Vatican in signing the document in Abu Dhabi made a big mistake in believing they were doing God's Will. Obedience to the Will of God as expressed in the commandments, counsels and inspiration is doing God's Will. The Abu Dhabi document is not God's Will. The Vatican has it all confused. 

4. Misconceptions.
     As a young seminarian, I was made to believe that as a Benedictine monk I was obliged to obey the commandments and the three evangelical counsels. But I was made to believe, too, that diocesan priests were not obliged to obey the evangelical counsel of poverty. Thus the big joke that we rich religious make the vow of poverty but diocesan priest practice it. Well, I got it all wrong; and that is from the seminary and theological schools. The Fathers and the doctors of the Church, like St. Francis de Sales, clearly stated that to have eternal life, the words of Christ are very clear, we must observe all the commands of God the Father as enumerated in the Old Testament, we must observe the Evangelical counsels as described by God the Son, Jesus Chris in the New Testament. And we must obey the commands of God the Holy Spirit that is given to a select few. Sacred Scriptures give no exceptions.