Always good to listen to St. Augustine when he’s reflecting on a favorite theme: Desiring God.

“The entire life of a good Christian is in fact an exercise of holy desire. You do not yet see what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when he comes you may see and be utterly satisfied.

Suppose you are going to fill some holder or container, and you know you will be given a large amount. Then you set about stretching your sack or wineskin or whatever it is. Why? Because you know the quantity you will have to put in it and your eyes tell you there is not enough room. 

By stretching it, therefore, you increase the capacity of the sack, and this is how God deals with us. Simply by making us wait he increases our desire, which in turn enlarges the capacity of our soul, making it able to receive what is to be given to us.

So, my brethren, let us continue to desire, for we shall be filled. Take note of Saint Paul stretching as it were his ability to receive what is to come: ‘Not that I have already obtained this’, he said, ‘or am made perfect. Brethren, I do not consider that I have already obtained it.’

We might ask him, ‘If you have not yet obtained it, what are you doing in this life?’ This one thing I do, answers Paul, ‘forgetting what lies behind, and stretching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the prize to which I am called in the life above.’ Not only did Paul say he stretched forward, but he also declared that he pressed on toward a chosen goal. He realised in fact that he was still short of receiving what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived.”

Let me desire what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived.

by Orlando Hernandez

When I first saw “The Chair of Peter” I was amazed and delighted. I was a lover of art and a fan of Gianlorenzo Bernini. At the time I was not a believer in God, and I was put off by the opulence of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The place seemed to me like an oversized train station. I felt no presence of God in this place. But I was also overcome by the magnificent beauty of the place.

What most impressed me though, was the back of the Basilica, behind the marvelous, massive metal canopy over the altar. Vast quantities of angels and swirling cloud-like shapes surrounded this huge, empty throne, giving the impression that it was being lifted up like some sort of Renaissance-era Space Shuttle blasting off into space. How all this heavy metal could evoke the lightness of cake frosting was indeed marvelous. And on top of it all, seeming small in comparison, was the poignant image of the brooding Spirit of God, shining from a stained-glass window way up high. Wow, Bernini, what a genius, my main man! Not a thought about this Saint Peter.

Nearly thirty years later, I re-entered this great place full of the Holy Spirit and the love of God. My attitude was different. I still loved great art but, after spiritual experiences and much reading of the Gospels, Jesus was my love, and Peter the Fisherman was my “Main Man,” my favorite saint. I was coming here to honor them both.

And yet, the place left me cold. It still felt huge and empty, yet full of aggressive, jostling tourists, making it very hard to be in a prayerful mood. This spectacular building said nothing to me about what the person of St Peter meant in my life. Then, the simplest of objects appeared before me, to remind me of why I was there.

In front of the stairs to the lower levels, where Peter’s tomb was located, there were a number of small tablets mounted on iron stands with typewritten information on them in different languages. I read the English one, and this is what was written on it:
“You are the Christ, the son of the, living God. (Mt 16:16)”

“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God. (Jn 6: 68-69)”

“Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. (Jn 21:17b)”

I almost felt dizzy. My heart was filled with so much emotion. It was as if the great saint had personally come to remind me of the mystery and the marvelous miracle that is the love of God. The humble fisherman had for the longest time been my example of what a life with Christ can be like. First, when He calls, I cannot help but recognize who He truly is. When I am confused, in doubt, or afraid of losing my faith, those words of Peter remind me that there really is no other place for me to go. I have walked too far with My Lord. In spite of the many times that I have been confused or felt threatened by His message, in spite of the many times I have denied Him, Peter has been my example every time I feel Jesus’ invitation to love Him. Thank you, Saint Peter, for being such an inspiration in my life!

I stood there for a while, and, as had happened various other times in Churches in Italy, my Lord came to call me. An elderly, stern priest came by ringing a bell, “Ding, ding, ding, ding ding,” announcing the Eucharist in one of the large chapels to the left. The chapel commemorated the crucifixion of Peter. I went joyfully to be with my Lord. I know that Peter, my “Main Man” and guide, was there also with me.

Orlando Hernandez

FEBRUARY 21 Mon Weekday [St Peter Damian, Bishop  Doctor of the Church] Jas 3:13-18/Mk 9:14-29 

22 Tue The Chair of St Peter Feast 1 Pt 5:1-4/Mt 16:13-19 

23 Wed St Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr Memorial Jas 4:13-17/Mk 9:38-40

24 Thu Weekday Jas 5:1-6/Mk 9:41-50 

25 Fri Weekday Jas 5:9-12/Mk 10:1-12 

26 Sat Weekday Jas 5:13-20/Mk 10:13-16 

27 SUN EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sir 27:4-7/1 Cor 15:54-58/Lk 6:39-45 

27. ST. GABRIEL, PASSIONIST 

The weekday readings from Mark’s Gospel begin this week with the cure of the young boy whose youth has been marred by “a mute spirit.” (Monday) We have a number of reminders in this week’s liturgy that the journey to Jerusalem is meant to make us children of God again. That wasn’t the greatness his disciples seem to be looking for. (Cf. Mark 9: 33ff) Jesus meets opposition on that journey (Friday) Mark 10:13-16 returns to Jesus teaching about becoming children. (Saturday)

Next Sunday the Passionists celebrate the feast of St. Gabriel, a young Passionist from Italy who is honored as a patron of youth.

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter (February 22) reminds us we are children of the church learning from its teaching. 

St. Polycarp, an old man, dies professing his faith in the teaching of the gospel he received in his youth. (Wednesday)

We read the Letter of James along with Mark’s Gospel these weeks before Lent. I think the authors of our lectionary placed the Letter of James, which emphasizes the practical teachings of faith, as a balance to Mark’s Gospel, which concentrates on Jesus’ works of healing and casting out demons.

For this week’s homily please watch the video below.

Many art critics say the Transfiguration of Jesus by Rafael is the most beautiful painting ever made. I’m no expert on art, but I think the painting also says a lot about how this mystery in Mark’s Gospel is connected to the rest of his stories.

The bottom part of the painting is the dramatic story of the cure of a young boy brought to Jesus by his father as he comes down from the mountain. (Mark 9: 14-29) The boy’s had seizures since his birth. He’s evidently suffering convulsions even now.  The crowd around the boy and his father and the disciples around Jesus are excitedly calling for something to be done. Jesus looks at the poor boy and he will cure him.  

But before he does he reminds them about the importances of faith. In Mark’s Gospel, he asks the boy’s father if he believes. “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.”  Jesus also tells his disciples they weren’t able to help because they don’t pray enough. 

The story of his Transfiguration on the mountain prepares for the journey to Jerusalem. Rafael hints at what to expect there in the distant mountain to the right of his painting.  Commentators call the story of the Transfiguration an apocalyptic vision, a momentary vision preparing Jesus and his disciples for what’s coming. Jesus with his arms outstretched is strengthened for when he will stretch out his arms on the cross.  God, his Father, strengthens him with the promise of glory. We may forget that’s part of the mystery. 

His disciples with their incomplete faith are strengthened by the promise of glory too. God strengthen us with brief revelations of his glory.  Even now, Jesus reveals his glory to us so that we don’t lose hope. Even now, we can see intimations of God’s glory in our lives, brief encounters, transitory moments, transfigurations of a lesser kind, as Jesus leads us on.

Like the man with his son, suffering from seizures, Jesus tells us to believe. Like his disciples, wondering why they can’t do anything, why we can’t believe enough, Jesus tells us to pray. 

14 Mon Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop Memorial Jas 1:1-11/Mk 8:11-13 

15 Tue Weekday Jas 1:12-18/Mk 8:14-21

16 Wed Weekday Jas 1:19-27/Mk 8:22-26 

17 Thu Weekday [The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order] Jas 2:1-9/Mk 8:27-33 

18 Fri Weekday Jas 2:14-24, 26/Mk 8:34—9:1

19 Sat Weekday Jas 3:1-10/Mk 9:2-13 

20 SUN 7th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23/1 Cor 15:45-49/Lk 6:27-38 

We read on weekdays the next two weeks from the Letter of James, a letter addressed to the “twelve tribes of the dispersion.” Jewish-Christian exiles likely. They’re urged to bear up patiently in the hard circumstances they find themselves. It’s always hard to keep ideals when things are not going well.

In readings from the 8th and 9th chapters of Mark this week we hear of the growing opposition to Jesus from the pharisees who ask for a sign and questions from his own disciples. The readings mark the time when Jesus will head toward Jerusalem with his disciples.

We will be on our Lenten journey in two weeks. We hear the same caution Jesus gave his disciples then: “ Don’t listen to those who oppose me.” 

Saints Cyril and Methodius are remembered this Monday. Their work can throw some light on our current church debates about the language we should use in our liturgy and also the current situation in the Ukraine.

For this week’s homily, please watch the video below.

FEBRUARY 7 Mon Weekday 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13/Mk 6:53-56 

8 Tue Weekday [Saint Jerome Emiliani; Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin]

1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30/Mk 7:1-13 

9 Wed Weekday 1 Kgs 10:1-10/Mk 7:14-23 

10 Thu Saint Scholastica, Memorial 1 Kgs 11:4-13/Mk 7:24-30 

11 Fri Weekday [Our Lady of Lourdes] 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19/Mk 7:31-37 

12 Sat Weekday 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34/Mk 8:1-10 

13 SUN 6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  Jer 17:5-8/1 Cor 15:12, 16-20/Lk 6:17, 20-26

Readings from the 1st Book of Kings this week continue the history of Israel begun in the Books of Samuel.  David’s son, Solomon, dedicates the temple in Jerusalem (Monday-Tuesday ), which initiates a “golden age”, (Wednesday) Then,  there’s a rebellion of the northern Kingdom under Jeroboam which leads to its destruction. (Friday, Saturday) The northern kingdom (Israel) will be destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. In 586 B.C., the southern kingdom (Judah) will fall to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. The temple will be burned to the ground, Jerusalem destroyed, and Judah’s high-ranking citizens, including its king, deported to Babylon. 

Readings from Mark’s Gospel this week bring Jesus into gentile territory. Jesus’ parable dismissing the prohibition against unclean food and other strictures (Tuesday)  prepares for his journey into gentile territory and his missionary outreach there. (Wednesday-Thursday)

St. Josephine Bakhita (Tuesday), like St. Agnes and St Agatha, offers an heroic story of an abused woman sustained by God’s grace. St. Scholastica is a woman who brought about a storm. (Thursday)

Friday we remember Our Lady of Lourdes, a day of prayer for the sick.

The feast of the martyrs of Japan (February 6) occurs on Sunday. Remember the church in Japan.

For readings and scriptural commentary cf.  www.usccb.org

For reading 1 Kings;   https://bibleresources.americanbible.org/resource/1-kings

For this week’s homily please watch the video below.