St. Paul- You are well aware that those who try to live like Jesus Christ are certain to be attacked. The wicked will go from bad to worse.

Since Pentecost, the Church steps into reflection on martyrdom. The masses this week are in memory of martyrs. We are challenged to be of courage.

Father told a story of a Jesuit priest who had spent half of his life in Communist prison labor camps. He was continuously offered freedom if he would only renounce his faith. He never did. He withstood this temptation because Jesus Christ was with Him. The prison could take away his dignity, but not his love for Jesus Christ.

Some are teaching according to their own taste instead of sound teaching. They turn to myths instead of truth.

Is there a moral law that applies to everyone? Is there truth? Is truth a reality? What is truth?

Truth - conformity with reality - living with the way things really are.

Myth - has no basis according to reality. Different gods controlling different things.

St. Paul said, give sound teaching, not myths. Teach of the reality of God of Jesus Christ.

In 1993, the Holy Father said we are made holy by obedience to the truth, but obedience is not easy. Man’s will to submit to truth is weak. But his heart is yearning for the absolute truth. Man ask, what must I do to distinguish good from evil.

The Church has a rich tradition of moral teachings. However, there have been doubts about the Church’s moral teachings of the truth.

There is the conflict between freedom and truth. Freedom to do as I please and the truth.

Faith is living in accord with the faith instead of merely professing the faith.

Faith is connected with reality. Jesus said: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." God alone is good. An imitation of Jesus - is a way of perfection.

There is a relationship between our actions and our eternal life. Actions have consequences. As long as I choose God, no consequences. Whatever I do will affect my eternity.

There is a trend in theology - fundamental option. As long as I choose God, its OK. But you can’t separate the two. Catholics for Free Choice - this is a contradiction. You can’t choose God and also something contrary to our faith.

The other trend is - the end justifies the means. This means evil is OK if good is the result. This is false theology. You can’t do an evil act because good is the result.

Freedom is the gift of self, inspired by love for the sake of helping our brothers and sisters. True freedom is freedom free of sin.

God’s laws - demands of love in particular to way of salvation.

Martyr - to die rather than sin.

Where do we find a place where we can go in conformity to the truth? In Jesus Christ. From Jesus Christ we are given the grace to do it.

Never accept compromises on truth. He understands our weaknesses. He gives us the strength to live right.

Mary, Mother of Mercy, has compassion on every kind of weakness.

Only the Cross and glory of Jesus Christ can grant peace to life.

Follow Jesus Christ and be transformed by His grace, mercy and truth in Him.

The greatest source of grace is the Holy Eucharist.

WHO IS THE BLESSED MOTHER? WHAT IS HER PLACE IN THE PLAN OF GOD?

After Adam and Eve, God set up an order of: first - Patriarchs, second - Judges, third - Kings, fourth - Prophets and fifth -Incarnation ( Mary and Joseph). Incarnation is the biggest thing that ever happened in history. Incarnation is an action to put into flesh. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Mary and Joseph are the biggest thing that God did. Mary, because she conceived Jesus, and Joseph, because he protected Mary and Jesus. There is no man on earth bigger than Joseph.

It is a big thing for the Word of God to become man. This is hard to understand. Father Ray says for the Word of God to become man is nothing compared to us becoming a puppy.

There is no place in the Old Testament that says, this is Mary. Thus we start in the New Testament. St. Paul in Gal. 4:4, written is 50 AD - "God sent His son, born in the likeness of man, born of a woman." This was so we could receive our status as adopted sons and daughters. Without Mary, we would only be creatures of God.

In Matt. 1:23, 85 AD, the idea of a virgin came about. Matthew refers to the prophet - "Virgin will be with child and will call Him ‘Emmanuel’" (God with us). In Micah 5:1, there is the reference to the birth in Bethlehem. By using a constant referral back to the Old Testament, Father Ray points out references to Mary and Jesus, though not by name. Mary is the woman of the Old Testament in Gen. 3, "I will put enmity between you and the woman." This is the ongoing war between Mary and Satan. Mary is in the Old Testament. Her name is not there, but She is there.

In Matt. 1:18, Mary is mentioned. Matthew Changes the word "maiden" to "virgin". A maiden was a young girl.

We should learn by heart Luke 1:28-38. Mary is not full of grace on Her own. She was "made" full of grace by God. The words delivered to Mary by Gabriel come from God.

There are three special loves a Catholic has: Mass, Mary and the Pope.

The Annunciation can be divided into three parts:

• The announcement by St. Gabriel,
• Mary visits Her cousin Elizabeth who proclaims, "Blessed are you among women . . . that the mother of my Lord should come to me."
• Simeon at the presentation in the temple - this child is for the rise and fall of many - a sword shall pierce your soul.

The term brothers and sisters of Jesus is a reference to any and all relatives of Jesus such as cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.

In both the Old and New testaments there are many references to mother and son (child). If you want to take the son you must also take the mother. The word is, don’t break up the team.

The prophet Zephaniah wrote 700 years BC: Be not discouraged. The Lord is in your midst. I will remove disaster from you. I will bring about restoration before your eyes.

Zephaniah prophesied what is before our eyes today.

To our eyes He looks like a mere piece of bread. But, through the eyes of faith it is His body, blood, soul, and divinity.

We can get bogged down with the daily things of life, but Jesus is here to disperse all fear.

Pope John Paul, II says: "Be Not Afraid." We have nothing to fear.

The world casts fear into our hearts and Jesus is here to remove that fear. Fear tries to pull us down, but Jesus keeps us up. BE NOT DISCOURAGED! Bear your soul to Jesus and be not discouraged. The evil one puts shame upon us, but Jesus does not do that.

The reality of His sacramental presence before us is greater here in His Eucharistic presence than Fr. Francis Mary standing before us. This is where we come for renewal and replenishment.

• The Incarnation,
• Lord,
• Giver of Life,
• Proceed,
• Worshipped,
• Glorified, and
• Spoke through the prophets.

John 16:7 - "If I go, I will send him to you: Jesus departs through the cross, and the Holy Spirit comes to us through the wounds of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is out to prove the world wrong:

• about sin - They refused to believe in Him (biggest sin in the world).
• about justice - condemned Him of blasphemy.
• about condemnation - The devil is condemned. God sent the Son so that the world could be saved. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ will not be condemned. Whoever does not believe is already condemned.

The mission of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin. The Holy Spirit wants to convince you of sin so that you will stop sinning.

There are two sides: God and the devil. We are a covenant people. We hear, we accept what we hear, and we live what we accept. Jesus made a covenant with us. There is no salvation for us if we continue to sin. Every sin we commit is tied to the cross of Calvary.

The Holy Spirit continues to free us from sin. We have to get away from sin. Let us decide that there is no deliberate sin in our lives again. Make an about face. The business of the Holy Spirit is to finish the job of Jesus, to take away sin.

There are two gifts:

• gift of truth of conscience and
• gift of certitude of redemption.

The greatest sin the world committed was to kill Jesus Christ. But, at the same time, the greatest love happened: "Father forgive them, they do not know what they do."

Every sin is rooted in the sin of Adam and Eve. This sin is the same as Lucifer - "I will not serve." We use our free will to sin instead of to love. Adam and Eve’s pride is patched up by the humility of Jesus and Mary.

Invoke the Holy Spirit to turn around people with sin.

When we sin we are losing the life of God in us. We need to look like God. We are called to a friendship, a fellowship with God. The source of our sin never ceases to be active.

There is nothing more terrifying than being alone. We dread being alone. We all want to belong, to have happy, warm relationships with other people. We want family. But, every human family is imperfect. The perfect family - Almighty God.

God is a family of persons. The Trinity is the first family, and it existed for all of eternity.

We never fully comprehend this mystery of our faith. We can use a three leaf clover, a triangle, etc. in an attempt to explain the Trinity. Fr. Nevins used the example of the sun. The sun, a member of the solar system by which other planets revolve. Three forces, gravitation, light and heat are not persons, but are distinct. Three separate forces. The sun can be compared to the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If for one instance the Father would cease to care, the universe would explode into nothingness.

Light - supernatural light of grace frees us from darkness of sin. Distributes grace through Church. Jesus is the light of the world.

Heat - gives warmth to the world; fosters health and growth. The Holy Spirit is the same as heat. The Holy Spirit gives warmth - divine love.

The more we know about God, the more we can love Him. The more we love Him, the more our love will develop in eternity.

We want and need to belong. Our human family is the only reflection of that eternal community.