Holy Angels - Woodbury, NJ
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Saturday, 2nd Week of Lent

3/18/2017

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Today's Gospel
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus but the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them Jesus addressed this parable.

"A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself  in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

​Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.


​I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father

While he was still a long way off,
 his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.'

But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.'
Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'

He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again;

he was lost and has been found.'"
Reflection
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of the prodigal son. The father required his sons to work for him. One rebelled externally and pursued his own interests; the other inwardly rebelled but obeyed his father. Neither of them were free. The two will only find true freedom and joy of heart in obeying the law willingly.

 Real freedom frees us from our sinful preoccupations that harm us spiritually and bind us from pursing false pleasures that will lead us away from God. Freedom is not a state where you can do whatever you want. Rather freedom is the state when you are no longer plagued with sin because you know what you want and what is best for you. This is where God’s law and the Church’s teachings guide us. St. John Paul II says, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." True freedom lies within our ability to chose what is right and just. 

In this parable we are also reminded of the endless mercy of God. Luke 15:7 says, “There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner that repents, than over ninety nine just persons who need no repentance.” 
There is no mistake that we can make that God will not forgive. There is no place too far the we can go that God will not come and rescue us with His infinite love. Which son are you? Are you inwardly or outwardly rebelling against the Father’s law and the church? If so, what is keeping you from being truly free? Whatever it is, today, offer it up to Jesus and let Him help you move towards the true freedom of being a child of God.
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Friday, 2nd Week of Lent

3/17/2017

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Today's Gospel
Matthew 21:33- 43, 45- 46
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: 
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them,
thinking, 'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.'
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times."
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
​
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables,
they knew that He was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest Him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded Him as a prophet.
Reflection
In this Gospel Jesus shares a parable with the leaders of the Jews, perhaps foreshadowing his own fate. God the Father, who lovingly cared for and nurtured His kingdom and all the people He made a covenant with, gave the Pharisees and the Chief Priests authority over them that they may likewise care for His people. God expected to see the fruit of love, justice, piety, and fidelity but did not find it. Now He has sent His only Son to encourage and teach the chief priests to be leaders for the people to produce good fruit and what do they do? They will kill Him because they want the power for themselves, not for the Father. They reject God who is the cornerstone upon which the Kingdom is built.” Jesus concludes, "Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” 

Everyone of us is responsible for another (maybe our children, our parents, a friend who needs us, a sibling, students, employees, etc.) and we are all created in God’s image, nurtured and cared for by Him. We are all responsible for how we treat others and how we use the resources given to us by God. Our power is really a responsibility to serve, given to us from the Lord, from whom all power comes. Do we see this as such? Or do we chose our own power over God? St. John Paul II conveyed this understanding to the Church in Familiars Consortia: "Thus, the Christian family...is called to exercise its "service" of love towards God and towards its fellow human beings. Just as Christ exercises His royal power by serving us, so also the Christian finds the authentic meaning of his participation in the kingship of his Lord in sharing His spirit and practice of service to man.” 
How do we treat the people and things under our care? Let us reflect today on our responsibilities and how we carry them out and strive to cultivate a spirit of service. We have been entrusted with much, so let us serve much and receive God’s good pleasure.
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Thursday, 2nd week of Lent

3/16/2017

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Today's Gospel
Luke 16:19-31 

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father's house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said,
'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead." 
Reflection
Here we have in our midst the rich man with no name and the poor man called Lazarus. The rich man dressed in "purple garments and fine linen" while the poor seems to be dressed in nothing but his sores. Death is the fate of both of them, as it is for all of us, both rich and poor alike. God knows the name of Lazarus while the rich man found himself unknown and in torment.  Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees, breaks down one of the biggest stereotypes of the Jews; the rich are blessed by God and the poor are cursed by Him. This is false. Lazarus may have received a difficult life on earth  but he was still known, that is loved by God, and at the end found himself in the eternal embrace of his loving Father. 


We cannot rest on our earthly success and material wealth. Contrary to what our culture tells us, these may not actually be signs of blessing from God. This Gospel opens our eyes to the reality around us. God does not care for these worldly accomplishments. God looks to our hearts. The fact is the rich man did not show love. We are capable and expected to bring the love of God to every person, in every situation that we are faced with. 

Lent is a time to allow ourselves to be open to that love of God, while at the same time, to be emptied of all that distracts us from truly loving the people around us. We must see as Christ is teaching us to see. There are so many people who are "lying at our doorstep" who need nothing more than to be shown the love of God. How can we do this? How can we reach out to those in need of love? Today, take the time to notice every single person you encounter throughout your day. If you are able to give love in some way, take that extra step to do so. If not, smile and pray for each and every soul that they may come to know how truly loved they are by God the Father.
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Wednesday, 2nd Week of Lent

3/15/2017

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Today's Gospel
Matthew 2:17-28 

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
He took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn Him to death,
and hand Him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and He will be raised on the third day."


Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did Him homage, wishing to ask Him for something.
He said to her, "What do you wish?"
She answered Him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to Him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection
Matthew is teaching us today about service. To serve someone else means to surrender your will and desires for another.  Jesus and our most Blessed Mother are the ultimate example of selfless desires and service. Jesus' attitude was "not my will, but your will be done" (Luke 22:42) and Mary said, "Be it done to be according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). In surrendering to God's will, they sacrificed their desires, and chose to trust in God's greater plan. They exemplify full surrender and conformity to the will of God. Although His will did not save them from suffering, it did bring them eternal joy.

The secret to Jesus and Mary's peace and joy in doing God's will, lies in the fact that they made their one desire to do what God desired. Do we surrender like Jesus and Mary? We can get frustrated, lose hope and despair thinking that God forgot about us when things do not go as we want. Or how often do we force our own will and the things that we want instead of listening to what God wants. What if we asked that our desires reflect God's desire for us? When we humble ourselves and serve, we forget about ourselves and are able to see the bigger picture that God sees. We learn what He desires for us and our desires become His and His will becomes our own. 


May we take the time this Lent to put aside our desires, to serve others and to fully surrender the rest to God and trust in His perfect plan for our lives. Today, say a decade of the Rosary and ask the Blessed Mother to intercede and unite your desires to her most loving and merciful son Jesus.
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Tuesday, 2nd Week of Lent

3/14/2017

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Today's Gospel
 Matthew 23:1-12 

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying,
"The Scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
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Reflection
In today's Gospel we hear about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Scribes and their empty practices that were not done in love, but rather motivated by vanity and pride. In a world that seems to reward the proud, Christ's message is one of hope. Those who humble themselves are not forgotten. Rather, they will be the ones who are truly conformed to Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven.


Pride and vanity, can be tremendous burdens to carry, and sometimes we even actively seek these burdens due to our fallen nature. But the good news is that Christ has come to free us from the things that weigh us down and show us the way to happiness. Jesus instructs us not to follow the vain and empty examples of the Pharisees, and for this we should be thankful. Jesus implores us to turn away from the slavery and emptiness of pride in our own lives, so that we might find hope in the resurrected Christ who has shown us the way to freedom and everlasting life. 

Today, look for the opportunities in your life to not be a hypocrite, but rather live an authentic witness to the Gospel and joyfully humble yourself like Christ. In doing so, you too may be free to embrace your identity as a child of God. ​
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Monday, 2nd Week of Lent

3/13/2017

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Today's Gospel
Luke 6: 36-38 

Jesus said to His disciples:
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."
Today's Reflection
Today's Gospel shows us that we are not dealt with according to our sins, but according to how we loved. Christ gave His life for us on the cross so that we may be free from the eternal punishment of sin. It is our responsibility to accept His sacrifice. We do this through repentance, which requires the rejection of sin and the will to do good. It is not so much a matter of how you have sinned in the past, but if you have resolved to sin no more.

What does it look like to live without sin? We are called to love, to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful, not to judge and condemn, but to forgive. We must forgive. We have all been hurt by someone. To forgive is not to be okay with what has happened, but to free the one who has wronged you of their debt, to reaffirm them in love. Do not forget that you must also forgive yourself for the wrongs you have committed. If God has chosen to forgive you, who are you to disagree? We must also give. We are called to share of our time, treasure and talent, not from our excess, but from our first fruits. When we refuse to give, we are unable to receive.

We are to offer to the Lord not only what is good, but also our sins and sufferings. Anything you might be holding on to (regret, addiction, despair, etc.) prohibits you from receiving what the Lord has to offer you (joy, freedom, hope, etc.). Today, surrender all of this to Him and remain united with Him in prayer and your heart will be filled with His great love. 
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Second Sunday of Lent

3/12/2017

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Today's Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9 

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,  and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,  
"Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, behold, 
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,  then from the cloud came a voice that said,  "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
"Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes,  they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone 

until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Reflection
Br. Steve Eguino is studying for the Priesthood with the Salesians of Don Bosco. He is one half of the rapping duo,  
The Bosco Boys and is featured in the Array of Hope Concert. 

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Woodbury, NJ
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St. Patrick Church
86 Cooper St.
Woodbury, NJ 08096

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N 4th St & Monument Ave.
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Holy Angels Worship Center
96 Green Ave.
Woodbury, NJ 08096

Holy Angels Catholic School
211 Cooper St. Woodbury, NJ 08096
Phone 856-848-6826
Fax: 856-2510344

www.holyangelswoodbury.org
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