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If miracles had happened in Tire and Sidon,… they would have repented long ago. People often sigh: if I had the conditions, if I had health, if I had time – I would do something. And they lament: I had no chances to achieve this or that, no chances were given to me; they are begging someone: at least give me a chance. And in general, they blame their failures in life on a lack of chances, that is, a lack of possibilities, opportunities, economic conditions, etc.

Let’s be clear: if the Lord God calls a person for a certain direction, to fulfill certain tasks, he will always give him opportunities for this. If someone can say with his hand on his heart that he does not have these possibilities – then it simply means that God is not calling him for those tasks. Of course, with a sensitive heart and an attentive eye, we see many tasks that need to be done around us – but this does not mean that they are all meant for us. But on the path of his profession, everyone gets every chance; the misfortune is that not everyone uses them properly. Lord Jesus strongly condemns those cities that wasted their chance. That chance was his presence in Bethsaida and Capernaum, who were given to hear Christ’s teaching and see the miracles that happened there. This was a chance for acceptance of the Gospel and conversion. Unfortunately, the personal meeting with Christ, his rather long stay there and extraordinary events became a wasted chance for the people there. Are we making proper use of the chance that Christ’s presence is in our midst: his presence through faith in our hearts?

Let’s ask ourselves a question: Who cares about the salvation of his soul today? Who is afraid of the judgment of the Lord Jesus today? We should realize and seriously approach it in practice that we must not be indifferent to what will follow after our death or how we use the gifts we receive from the Lord Jesus. We say that God is good. Yes, he offers us his gifts even today, but he is also waiting for our answer. However, this means that we humbly and lovingly fulfill the duties that he expects from us. Let’s realize that God is all-knowing and will not tolerate just some tinsel, or superficiality. We must not waste the graces offered and given in this way of life. Otherwise, we rightly expect a more severe punishment and Jesus’: “Woe!”

Even in our surroundings, we see a lot of sin, evil, and scandal. Some are public, some are secret. Difficulties and problems in our family are like a stormy sea.

Did the true and pure life of a Christian appeal to you? Living with Christ is at least as difficult as in the past. And they did not stop paying the words of the Lord Jesus about following him. “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37).  Jesus asks us that He Himself be the pinnacle of our love.

Lord Jesus will say these words to the apostles before entrusting them with the apostolic mission. In his love, he knows that many dangers await his followers. He prepares them not to be afraid. Jesus knows that often those closest to us become the greatest enemies in the fulfillment of the duties that He has determined. And precisely in such a sensitive manner – as love for the nearest, bonds with those who gave us life, to whom we gave life; Jesus teaches that we must not hesitate. Deciding where to put God first and then everything else and everything else is a great cross. Jesus wants none of the people, not even those closest by blood, to be an obstacle to salvation for any of us. In love, neighbors can be an obstacle to loving God. Whoever loves God above all else, God will bless his love for his neighbors even more. When realizing these words, we often feel the weight of the cross. True love cannot do without a cross. And that’s why Jesus’ words about the cross are appropriate: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:38). In this context, we also see the core of Christianity, which is that we are willing to take up any cross for Jesus in our lives. We understand Jesus’ words that our love for God should come first. To love God before people and before anything. That is how the words will come true for us: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt 10:39 ). 

We cannot imagine the life of a Christian without realizing the words of the Lord Jesus. What kind of Christian would I be if I only accepted the words of the teachings of the Lord Jesus that suit me, that I like, and I would do what only I would want? As the apostles were the basis of the true following of Christ, when they fulfilled the words of the Lord Jesus without personal conditions, so today it is we who, not under compulsion, but consciously and voluntarily fulfill the will of Christ. Anyone who has experienced thirst in their life knows how to appreciate even a glass of water.

We realize, as Carretto writes in the book “Desert in the Middle of the City”, or in the book “Leaves from the Desert”, only when I find God in my life and put him in the first and most honorable place in my life, I will know the value of the reward promised by Jesus: “They will not lose their reward” (Mt 10:42).  Following Christ in love, when we put His will first in life, is correct and useful for us.  And encouraged by Jesus’ words: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” ( Jn 20:29), we also want to implement today’s words of Jesus

  Today is the holiday of St. Bonaventure, who is the third largest of the Franciscan saints after St. Anton and St. Francis. Bonaventure was born around 1217 in Bagnoregio near Oviedo as the son of a doctor. From 1225 to 1235, he studied at the Franciscan monastery in Bagnoregio. At that time, St. Francis of Assisi healed from a serious illness. In 1235 he began his studies in Paris. After their completion, he studied theology, probably as a Franciscan novice, under Alexander Haleský and John of La Rochelle. In the years 1248-50, he writes commentaries on the Holy Scriptures, starting with the Gospel of St. Luke. After obtaining the title of Master of Theology, he receives a chair. In 1257 at the general chapter in Rome, he was elected general of the order. October He spends 1259 on Mount Alverna, where he writes a lot. In May 1260, the general chapter is held in Narbonne. In 1261 writes biographies of St. Francis. In 1263 the General Chapter in Pisa presented the written “Legends”. In 1265 Clement IV. appoints Archbishop of York, but Bonaventure does not accept the appointment. In 1266 the General Chapter in Paris issued an order to destroy all biographies of St. Francis in addition to the “legends” written by Bonaventure. Nevertheless, we have preserved beautiful legends from Thomas off Celan. 
    We can say about Bonaventure that he is a teacher of Franciscan mysticism and that he managed to express in writing the Franciscan experience with God. On his feast day, we read in the breviary from his work: “Wandering of the mind to God.” Let’s listen to his teaching: “Christ is the way and the gate. Christ is the ladder and the chariot as “the mercy seat placed on the ark of God” and “the secret hidden from the ages.” Whoever looks carefully at this mercy seat, that is, who with faith, hope and love, religiously, with admiration, praise and recognition, with praise and joyfully looks at the one who hangs on the cross, he performs the “passover” with him, i.e. the crossing, so that with the help of the staff of the cross he crossed the Red Sea, from Egypt he entered the desert, where he tasted the hidden manna, and with Christ he rested in the tomb as outwardly dead, but at the same time he hears how it is even possible on the road, what Christ said to the criminal when he was hanging next to him on the cross:
    When St. Thomas Aquinas asked Bonaventure where he gets his wisdom, pointed to the cross and remarked: “That’s my library”. This is the wisdom that St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians: “We proclaim the secret of the hidden wisdom of God, which God appointed for our glory before the ages.” The whole strength of Christians lies in their willingness to take up their cross, in their willingness to sacrifice themselves. The way to God is the way of sacrifice. One cannot come to God without sacrifice. To experience God, we must die to our selfishness. 
    Later, Bonaventure became the General Minister of the Order. Love and kindness characterized him even in this office. Pope Gregory X appointed him a cardinal. When the papal envoys arrived with a cardinal’s hat, they found him washing dishes in the kitchen. He welcomed them warmly, hung his hat on the rack and asked to be allowed to finish washing the dishes. When the brothers contradicted him that it was no longer suitable for him, he answered completely calmly: “Am I not the general minister, and therefore the servant of all of you?” He received episcopal ordinations from the hands of Gregory X himself in Lyon. From 1274 participates in the Council of Lyons. In the same year, at the request of Gregory X, a general chapter was convened, at which Hieronymus of Ascoli (later Pope Nicholas IV) became Bonaventure’s successor in the office of general. On August 15, 1274, he dies in the presence of Gregory X. in the Franciscan monastery of Lyons and on the same day he is buried in the sacristy of the old Franciscan church. In 1482 Sixtus IV. with the bull “Superna caelestis patria” he declared Bonaventure a saint and gave him the title of Doctor, marking the day 7/14 as his feast day. In 1587 Sixtus V founds the College of St. at the Franciscan monastery of the Twelve Apostles in Rome. Bonaventure.
    What can we learn from him? That the cross is a staff that we can happily cross the red sea of ​​this world, every other support will break, but the cross will stand firm. Where there is a cross, there is victory. Let’s stick to this truth. The cross frees us from the tyranny of our egoism and our passions. Do not be afraid of the cross. When we cling to the cross, the devil withdraws from us with his temptations and allurements. The devil wants to please at any cost. The cross stands in direct opposition to this purpose, with which the devil corrupts the world and enslaves human souls to lust. The cross is the hidden power and wisdom of God, and it is victory over the world; it is the way to spiritual freedom.
    St. Bonaventure is a great worshiper of the Virgin Mary. From him comes the hymn “We praise You, Mother of God”, which is composed according to the example of the Te Deum by St. Ambrose. St. Bonaventure assures us that whenever a man prays devoutly to God, he obtains goods that are of greater value than the whole world, and asserts that we often receive grace by a short supplication rather than by many other good works.

Holidays-One of the most beautiful student words is derived from the word empty. The day is emptied of school duties for two months.

What experiences do we have with God’s word, the Holy Scriptures, and human words? Do you agree that our time is hungry for God’s word? What do the Holy Scriptures mean to me? Do I read it and follow it? Have you experienced that the human word attacks from all sides, that it pours down? An inappropriately and needlessly spoken word makes our heart restless for twenty-four hours. We know we are masters of our words, but we must also bear responsibility when we speak them. You need to learn the principles: Speak well of everyone! Talk about others as you would like others to talk about you. Don’t forget that good and bad words, when you say them, can have the same long-lasting response, but one causes joy, enriches, and the other destroys, hurts, and injures. Therefore, let our words be a light that enriches.

Jesus draws attention to the importance of the word of God and man with the parable of the sower, which ends with the lesson: “And whoever sowed on good ground, that is the one who hears the word and understands it, and it brings forth a harvest: one a hundredfold, another sixty fold, and another thirtyfold” (Mt 13:23).

At the beginning of the parable, the evangelist Matthew reminds us that Jesus taught everywhere and under all circumstances. It was also the case when he told the parable of the sower: “He got into the boat and sat down; and the whole crowd stood on the shore” (Mt 13:2). When Jesus spoke about the four types of the field into which the seed of the sower falls, he wants to prepare all the sowers of God’s word for their effort and also so that they do not become disheartened and influenced by failure in their work and diligence. The preacher of the gospel, the sower, must be a realist. Problems and difficulties must not be taken more seriously than necessary.
The soil and human hearts are different. He does not live in a false illusion but faithfully fulfills his duties. He feels the importance of the need for his involvement. One must not be discouraged by anything, not even failure. The announcer, that is, not only the priest preacher, but every believer and parent who announces the gospel to their children, brother to brother, that is, all of us who have received baptism, we are the sower, but we are also the seed. It is said about the martyrs that they were the seed for new disciples, believers, and witnesses of Christ. The prophet Isaiah already predicted about Christ’s followers: “My word that goes out of my mouth will not return empty, but it will do what I wished and accomplish what I sent it for” (Is 55,11).
The parable does not speak of those who have not heard God’s word, to whom God’s word has not been proclaimed, but of those who have heard and can take their stand on it. Matúš talks about four possibilities. The reactions of human hearts to God’s word are different. Jesus uses a familiar thing, the image of a field, along which paths lead, which is stony, on which bushes grow, but which is also fertile. Even if the sower strives to achieve a rich harvest, he cannot avoid the fact that the seeds will fall on different soils and hearts of people because each person is free. Reactions to grain are different. The square field does not mean a different state of the heart but a different attitude towards God’s word. How many times has God’s word been announced, and although they have heard it, their lives go on as if they did not hear it? They listen, and they don’t hear. “For whoever does not love the brother whom he sees cannot love God, whom he does not see” (1 John 4:20). Reactions after hearing God’s word speak volumes. Concrete deeds and behavior towards others are the measure of authentic listening.
It is not enough to accept God’s word with enthusiasm and joy. This would be the case for grain in rocky soil. That’s when everyday life, with its difficulties, destroys enthusiasm. Enthusiasm does not belong in the church. God’s word must be like a hammer that breaks a rock. “For the word of God is living, effective and sharper than any two-edged sword…” (Hebrews 4:12). Whoever is genuinely touched by God’s word will sober up from sin. Illusions will dissolve, especially those about oneself, one’s abilities, and holiness. God’s word makes one sober. Enthusiasm does not last. Why is a person immediately angry, upset…? Only with Christ can we resist the wind, storm, and frost of life.
Character traits, hereditary character traits, inclinations, and others are thorns that quickly grow and choke the word of God. How many times does such a person start the new year, Lent, after a good confession, after a pilgrimage or other celebration with the resolution to improve – and the result? The remark applies here that the more such a person moves away from the moment of resolution, the faster he moves away from God. Why? You have to do what a good gardener does. It will destroy the weeds. In the struggle for faith, with God’s help, a person first pulls out the weeds of character flaws and shortcomings, then lives God’s word so that hereditary burdens do not prevail during everyday life, but God’s word, which is to be strengthened.
Who does not desire a rich harvest? Who can enjoy it? “Blessed are those who hear God’s word and keep it” (Lk 11:28). In life, it is valid for them that to listen correctly means to listen “carefully” even during weekdays, and with God’s word, they are formed, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

The parable of the sower covers the whole breadth of life. It is and will always be timely and up-to-date. It touches us because we have accepted baptism, and thus also the obligation to proclaim the gospel, that is, to be a sower and to receive God’s word, that is, to be a grain, to be a role. And what is the purpose of our life? Or not bring a rich harvest? God wants to reward us. But?

When the Spanish conquered new territories, they committed many acts of violence. This also had terrible consequences. A Cuban was sentenced to death for being petty. The Catholic priest took pains to prepare him for eternal life. The convict asked him the last question: “Will Spaniards be in heaven?” When he received a positive answer from the priest, he refused to be baptized, saying: “If there are Spaniards in heaven who commit injustice, I don’t want to be in that heaven!” And today

? The “believers” declare that he confesses his dishonesty and everything is fine. What soil can we talk about here? The world needs those who are genuinely salt, light, and leaven.

A new priest came to the parish on the border. In front of the church, a man tells him: “Don’t think that you can easily attract someone to the church here. Many indeed went to church here. Especially when they suffered from poverty, injustice, and no money, now people have money, they can travel, and don’t need the church anymore.” And the man continued down the road to the pub. And the priest? He didn’t force anyone; he didn’t order anyone… Several years passed. Indeed, the church was rarely attended. But the situation slowly began to change. Those born earlier began to return first. Did they feel the proximity of eternity? Perhaps. But they saw the life of a priest. He preached but also lived God’s word. One parishioner even advised him to stop preaching because a scoundrel would remain a scoundrel. The priest believed in the power of God’s word. He used to say: “If a tree is to bear fruit, it needs years of care. To tame a wild beast, she needs a lot of love. And a person who has turned his back on God also needs someone to help him save his soul.”

Allegedly, some magazines turned to graphologists to say something about the people whose writing and handwriting they presented to them. They were not told to whom the scripture text belonged. They were St. František Salesky, Bishop of Geneva, and St. Katarína Sienská, Church teacher. The answer of the graphologists was: “The woman was sensual. She had the character traits of a street girl. The man had the nature of a troublemaker and a violent man. The magazine concluded this examination by stating: And the Church elevated such people to the altar, as saints.”

The result of the research of the graphologists can also be presented as follows: Look – they managed to become saints with such natures! And shouldn’t we prove it? St. says to Augustine at the beginning of his conversion: “If this one was able to do it, and if that one was able to do it, why couldn’t you, Augustine?” It is enough to realize what Jesus is telling us with the parable of the sower and to fill in the part where it is said: “And with whom was sown on good ground, that is he who hears the word and understands it, and it brings forth a harvest: one a hundredfold, another sixty fold, and another thirty fold” (Mt 13:23).

The proverb says: “Words move, examples attract.” St. Catherine and St. František are proof of that. God’s word does not lose its power, meaning, or necessity; it just needs to be accepted as Jesus wants us to. Yes, our human words are also necessary. It is time for us to ask for, acquire, and adopt the right relationship to God’s word and our honest and faithful relationship to the word of man.

Different opinions on the issue of the quality or quantity of priests are spreading around the world. Some say that it is better to have fewer but high-quality priests, others are of the opinion that it is necessary to have more of them so that no one misses the opportunity to find their way to God. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves” (Mt 10:16).

In addition to the Twelve, the Lord also sends seventy other disciples and sends them two at a time so that their testimony will be more credible according to the Jewish law for testimony. In any case, the disciples were distinguished from others in their missionary capacity. Jesus “designates” them, thus transferring them to an official role and preaching authority, and sends them as representatives and helpers, because the harvest is so great and the workers are few. They are to ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. The seventy-two returned happy and said after their return about their successful mission, during which they carried out Jesus’ command to heal the sick and preach and even cast out evil spirits in Jesus’ name.

Each of us is called to holiness, through the operation of a special initiative of God, by which God chooses some to follow his Son Jesus Christ more closely and thus become his servants and witnesses.  So we all have a lifelong task given by Jesus to be his apostles. Thanks to the profession, a person becomes a part of history. Vocation is not only a personal matter, but the whole Christian community participates in it. The Church encourages communities of believers to pray even more fervently for the Lord to send workers into his harvest.

I turn to all of you with a question: Why can’t we do such an initiative in our parish? So I call on all mothers, women, but also men, to “seize” the initiative and ask for new spiritual vocations for our parish as well. To your task of being today’s apostle, apart from the doubt, that God could also reveal himself through us to all the people with whom we live, work, travel, study, we can also add a prayer towards heaven that God prepares us daily for the task of witnessing to him with our lives, as Jesus did to his disciples. It can be, for example, a cry: Lord, give me the courage and perseverance to witness At the same time, let’s not forget to pray for the priests, especially for those who administered the sacraments to me and celebrate Holy Mass daily near my place of residence.

The Lord calls to Himself always. Jesus says to those whom he has called: “…the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mt 10:7). Have we also heard God’s call? Have we responded to this invitation? How?

The Lord chose us to be with him. He wanted us as we are. He was not bothered by our mistakes and shortcomings. Even through them, he wanted to use us for his highest goal – the salvation of souls. Are we aware of this noble distinction? Are we aware of how much love God has shown us? That’s why we don’t need to worry about what we can’t change. On the contrary, we should strive to live as Jesus lived. He is our role model. He is an example for us to follow. But we must remember that Jesus does not call the able, but gives ability to the called! God in us, based on the grace of baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit, can and will do miraculous things.

One personal testimony. It was delivered at one meeting by a young man, possibly a future priest, who says: “I had the opportunity to live one of the formative years of my preparation for the priesthood in a religious order whose charisma, among others, was zeal for new priestly vocations. It was at the time of my inner rebirth. I did not know to whom and where I was going. However, I knew that I wanted to leave the previous way of life, which no longer fulfilled me. I thought I had everything I needed for life. But I was wrong. Only when I reached this place did I know that here, completely surrendered to the will of God, I could start my new life. The road to the priesthood was winding… I realized that the priesthood is a service. It is a service in which we must die completely to ourselves and live to Christ. The Lord did not choose us because we are perfect. The Lord decided us because He liked us just the way we are. Simple, often with a lot of mistakes, which we may even try to hide from the world. But the Lord knows everything about us, and yet loves us even with our faults.”

So let’s think together now, what does our life mean to us? Is it just a certain designation or privilege that sets us apart from other people or represents for us something that is foolishness in the eyes of the powerful of this world? However, it is certain that those who accepted and responded to this call of God, God gave the power to become God’s children.

Holidays, days of rest and doing nothing… Let’s leave them filled with Jesus’ call to pray and go into the world and proclaim everywhere his message of love and peace that he himself brought us. And so once, together with the psalmist, we could all exclaim: “Try and see for yourself how good the Lord is; happy is the person who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 33:9).