Who Else Wants to Know
the Keys to Doing  God’s Will?

My Dear People,

We all know that we need to pray in order to know God, and His Divine Will for us. Even the Holy Apostles asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Our Lord instructs Peter and His brothers how to say the Our Father in our Gospel today. He goes on to tell them a parable about a friend calling upon his neighbor for assistance in the middle of the night. Because of the friend’s persistence, he receives what he asked from his neighbor. Jesus then tells His Apostles, that if we know how to give good things to one another, how much more will Our Heavenly Father know what we need.

Trusting in God’s Divine Providence is a difficult lesson to learn. Submitting our own will unto God’s perfect Will is not an easy task. It takes great patience and humility. But Our Lord tells us that if we ask for this grace, it will be given to us. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Pray to Him while He is still near. Trust in the Lord at all times, and know He is there.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark Bozada

May we learn to see the difference between the simple things we need and the many things we want.

Sarah Laughed

Miracles still happen today, as in days of old. The reading from the book of Genesis this Sunday, is a testament of God’s almighty power. Sarah was past menopause, she was in her eighties and childless. Three angles comes to visit the tent of Abraham. Inviting them into his dwelling place, Abraham and Sarah prepared a meal for them. After the feast, the angels announce that Sarah, who was thought to be barren, would conceive and give birth to a son nine months from the arrival of their announcement.

Sarah, who was listening to their conversation behind the tent wall, laughs. How can this be? I am not capable of bearing children, she thought to herself, and so she chuckles. Nine months later, Sarah bore a son. Abraham gave him the name, “Isaac” which translates, “Sarah laughed.” Never underestimate the power of God. With Him all things are possible if we but “Believe”.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark Bozada

May we never doubt the power of God in our everyday lives. Like Mary, May we find time to be with Jesus in prayer.

Freedom, is a word, often used during the fourth of July celebrations. In the United States, we associate freedom with our separation from the English rule. Most times when we think of being “free,” it usually involves a departing from someone or something.  When Jesus speaks of “freedom,” it is always in reference to being set free “for” something, and not “from” something.  Our true freedom lies in our choice to make ourselves available for Christ, and His Father’s will for us.

Fr. Mark Bozada

In our Gospel today, Luke tells us that Jesus selected “72″ disciples for the sake of announcing the Kingdom of God. “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” Our Lord appoints these men to “free” people from the bondage of sin and the second death. They were to live a radical and simple lifestyle, focused on “service.”  As the 72 go forth preaching in the Name of Jesus Christ, even the demons run from them. Ultimately, the disciples were seeing the victory being won in the Name of the Lord. We benefit from this victory of Christ. Are you willing to be set free to serve the Lord? Are you really free for His service? Are you ready to follow Him?

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada

May we learn to more deeply trust God to provide us with all that we need.

The real work of the Holy Apostles began when Jesus ascended into Heaven. Before the Crucifixion, Jesus trained His Apostles to preach and teach in the Name. Anxious to begin the journey, the Apostles ask Our Lord if He would destroy by fire, those who rejected the Message. Jesus quietly rebukes them. He continued to journey from village to village bringing good news to the poor.

The focus had to be on the Gospel. This is why Jesus tells them that the one who sets a hand to the plow and looks at what is behind, is unfit for the Kingdom of God.

So they went forth, and continued to announce the coming of the Kingdom. We are called to the same radical lifestyle longing for Our Lord while living in the world. Pray for the grace to keep one eye on the Lord and the other on this world.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark Bozada

May we turn to God for His guidance and direction as we strive to serve one another and the Church with the gifts God has entrusted to our care.

My Dear People,

When the Lord poured out a spirit of “grace and petitions” upon the house of David, He was doing two things. First, He was strengthening Israel’s hunger for Him. Secondly, He was opening Israel’s heart to His Divine Mercy and Love. That is the petition part. King David prefigures the Christ. Zechariah uses the image of the “son” being thrust through (sacrificed) preparing Israel for the Crucifixion, and have the choice to “repent” of their sin, or “reject” the One who was thrust through for our sins.

The prophets says their will be a future time of great conversion when mankind will see the great love God has for us in His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross. Only believers will live on. All will be purified of their sin and uncleanliness. So we must “thirst” now, for the Lord Himself. He will satisfy our hunger and thirst. Come to the living waters!

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada

May we learn to deny our wants a little more, so that we can more fully follow our Lord’s example of charity to others.

Pray for Priest

Why was Jesus so attracted to sinners? Throughout the Gospel, we find Our Lord actively seeking out sinners, and those who were lost. Our Gospel today is no exception. The sinful woman who desired to only be at the feet of Jesus, anoints His feet with oil. She bathed Jesus’ feet with oil. She bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears. Then, she wiped His feet with her hair. The feet were the dirtiest part of the body. They walked through dirt and raw sewage found in the city streets. Here action was a great act of humility.

The others at the table were critical of Jesus’ attention to her. In the middle of the ordeal, Jesus declares that He has forgiven her sins. The guests were all asking themselves, who is Jesus that He dares to forgive sin? Only GOD can forgive sin. Many ask the same question of Catholic priests in the confessional. Who is he to forgive my sins? He is only a man like us. This is true. Priests are sinful humans too. But it is JESUS Himself who forgives our sins through the action of the priest in the name of the Church. We have to be careful not to become like the Pharisees, who were critical of the Lord. Pray for priest. Ask God to give them a double portion of the Holy Ghost, so that they all may serve humbly in the name of Jesus.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada

May we seek Christ Jesus in the confessional, asking for His Divine Mercy and Forgiveness.

The multiplication of loaves and fishes is a testimony of God’s Divine Providence. As in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus consecrates simple gifts and makes them divine. So great the blessing, that there were twelve fragment baskets leftover. All who witnessed this great miracle were amazed at the five thousand who were fed with the few loaves and fishes.

As Catholics, we are blessed to received the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity at every Holy Mass. Jesus multiplies His graces for us through the Holy Bread come down from Heaven. This “miracle” is God’s gift to us through the consecrated hands of the priest. In order to benefit from the graces of this sacrament, we have to be properly disposed. Frequent reception of the Eucharist requires us to frequent the confessional. Don’t waste any Eucharistic grace by coming unprepared to Holy Mass. May God continue to bless us abundantly at each and every Mass.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada

May we remember that the baskets of leftover loaves and fishes, remind us that God can work wondrous deeds when we are willing to share.

Following the great feast of Easter, Pentecost is second in importance to the growth of the Church. Jesus promised his Apostles that He would send them the Paraclete. The Holy Ghost would teach them all things necessary for the birthing of the Church at its earliest beginnings. We see the dramatic effect of this grace when Peter stands up to proclaim the Good News about Jesus Christ. Leaving the closed doors of the upper room where the Apostles were huddled together for “fear” of the Jews, our first Pope now boldly proclaims Jesus Christ. There were devout men and women of every race who understood Peter’s preaching, and came to believe in the Holy Name of Jesus.

The same Holy Spirit that poured out over St. Peter, came to rest upon them. We have been given that same Spirit at Baptism and Confirmation. Do you use these gifts regularly? Are you exercising these gifts for the glory of God? Do you know what gifts you have been given? If you are unsure, ask the Holy Ghost to come into your heart and mind in a new way this Pentecost. Ask Him to teach you all things necessary to return safely home to Heaven. If you ask, you shall receive.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark Bozada

May we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us on our stewardship journey.

The Needs of the Church Are Given Through the Holy Spirit

The Ascension of Our Lord marked the beginning of the Church in transition. The Apostles, led by St. Peter, were given the charge to care for the needs of the community of believers. On Pentecost, all of the gifts necessary for its administration, were given to the Apostles. When the church began to grow, it’s needs followed. The glory of Jesus’ Ascension permeated this growth process. We still benefit form this charism today.

The royal glory of the Ascension fills our minds and hearts every time we ask for it. We are a royal priesthood; a people set apart. What a privilege it is to bear the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray to remain holy. Pray to remain in God’s glory. Pray to stay in His Peace.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada

May we learn to put God first in our lives, realizing that we are called to be His hands and feet here on earth.

The Holy Spirit Will Teach You All Things . . .

Pentecost is the “birthday” of the Church.  Mary and the Twelve were huddled in prayer awaiting His Consolation. In the midst of their fear and trembling, He appears to them as “tongues of fire” which came to rest upon each of them. How blest we are to have the Holy Spirit come to dwell in us. How privileged we are to receive Him at Baptism and Confirmation. How challenged are we to share His Light among the nations. Our present world is immersed in such intense darkness. It longs for the light of “hope.”

The Holy Spirit leads us into the way of eternal hope. This is the hope that gave birth to a first century Church also plunged into darkness. Be Christ’s light to one another. As Pope John Paul ll announced upon his being made pope in the late seventies, “Be not afraid…” Permit the Holy Spirit to strengthen your weaknesses and lift up your spirit. He will teach you all things that lead to Jesus and the Father. Pray fervently this week to ready to receive the new fire of the Holy Spirit in the weeks ahead. Maranatha… Come Lord Jesus Come!

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada

May we long to be filled with the new fire of the Most Holy Spirit.