Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: July 9 (Fr. Kevin Mac Donald, C.Ss.R.)

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: July 10 (Fr. Kevin O'Neil, C.Ss.R.)

Viernes de la XIV semana del Tiempo ordinario: 10 de Julio (P. Kevin O'Neil, C.Ss.R.)

Jueves de la XIV semana del Tiempo ordinario: 9 de Julio (P. Manny Rodríguez Delgado, C.Ss.R.)

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: July 9 (Fr. Kevin Mac Donald, C.Ss.R.)

Today the Church recognizes the exceptional men, women, and even children who accepted the ultimate sacrifice for the Christian faith in China between the years of 1648 and 1930.    Their story could be said to have started in the 600’s when monks arrived in China from Syria. Unfortunately, these monks not only carried silk to be traded with the Chinese people, but also the Nestorian heresy which denies the divinity of Christ. The Chinese emperor welcomed the monks and permitted them to share their faith. Over the next couple of centuries, churches were built and converts were made. Persecutions began in the 8th century, however, until almost all the Nestorian Christians were vanguished.    The Spanish Dominican priest, Fr. Francisco de Capillas, arrived in China in the mid-1600’s after spending twenty years in the Philippines. He was successful in winning over many converts and started a lay order of Dominicans. The tolerant Ming Dynasty was then replaced by the Qing Dynasty and persecutions began again in earnest. Fr. De Capillas was arrested for “teaching false doctrine” and opposing the new emperor. He was beheaded while praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary in 1647.   Persecutions settled down after Fr. de Capillas’ death, but that changed in 1707 when the Pope Clement XI issued a decree forbidding ancestor worship. The Emperor used this as an excuse to expel all Christian priests, confiscate church lands, and close all churches. By the end of the 18th century, there were only one hundred thousand Christians left in the country and they had to practice their faith in secret.    Fr. Augustine Zhao Rong, whose name is attached to today’s memorial, was a Chinese soldier ordered to accompany a French Bishop, John Gabriel Turin Dufresse, to his imprisonment and martyrdom. Zhao Rong was impressed with the Bishop’s gentle demeanor and courage. Upon the completion of his duty, he asked to be baptized. He progressed in the faith until he was the first native Chinese to be ordained a priest. Fr. Augustine was later arrested, tortured, and died of his injuries in prison.    Other persecutions followed, the worst during the Boxer Revolution in 1900, which produced eighty-six martyrs including many religious sisters, priests, catechists, and other laity. The final two martyrs honored today died in 1930.    In his canonization homily, Pope John Paul II said:    Today the Church is grateful to her Lord, who blesses her and bathes her in light with the radiant holiness of these sons and daughters of China… Young Ann Wang, a 14-year-old, withstood the threats of the torturers who invited her to apostatize. Ready for her beheading, she declared with a radiant face: “The door of heaven is open to all,” three times murmuring: “Jesus.” And 18-year-old Chi Zhuzi, cried out fearlessly to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian.”    May our prayers join the prayers of our Christian brothers and sisters in China as they continue to inspire new converts to the faith. St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, pray for us.    Blessings,  Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.

Miércoles de la XIV semana del Tiempo ordinario: 8 de Julio (P. Tomás "Martín" Deely, C.Ss.R.)

SEMBRANDO JUSTICIA…CONSTRUYENDO EL REINO DE DIOS Hoy el Profeta Oseas dice esto a los israelitas: Siembren justicia y cosecharán misericordia. Entonces Jesús nos dice hoy: Vayan más bien en busca de las ovejas perdidas de la casa de Israel. Vayan y proclamen por el camino que ya se acerca el Reino de los cielos". Jesús sabe que la mejor forma de hacer llegar el reino de Dios es cuando sembramos justicia y  cosechamos así la misericordia.  El Reino de Dios es una forma de vivir en comunidad con justicia, misericordia y amor. El Reino de Dios es lo que construimos cuando seguimos el ejemplo de Jesús….Porque Jesús siempre veía a la gente con amor y misericordia. Jesús hoy día nos invita ver a los demás, sobre todo a los pobres y maltratados CON LOS OJOS DE DIOS…CON LOS OJOS DE JESÚS. Jesús sanaba la gente de sus enfermedades como la ceguera, la cojera, la sordera, las enfermedades del pie. Pero Jesús también sanaba la gente de su odio, su rencor y de su desprecio de los demás. Jesús ayudaba y sigue ayúdanos hoy día de VER A LOS DEMÁS CON LOS MISMOS OJOS DE DIOS. Sobre todo para que miremos con compasión gente que haya ofendido a los demás.  (Jesús hizo esto con el ladrón Dimas al lado suyo en el Calvario. Jesús anunció el Reino hacienda nuevas las vidas de gente herida y equivocada para que vieran a los demás con ternura y amor.  Jesús nos invita ser personas nuevas. Hizo esto Jesús con personas como María Magdalena. Lo hizo con Pedro mismo y a los demás discípulos que le habían abandonado y en el caso de Pedro le había negado. Jesús nos invita ser Constructores de su Reino. Eso lo hacemos cuando somos misericordiosos, generosos, Honestos y humildes. Les invito yo pensar en personas que construyen el Reino de Dios. Yo vivo con mi compañero Padre Félix. El es sacerdote redentorista igual que yo. Padre Félix no puede caminar sino en silla de ruedas. Tiene constante dolor en el cuerpo. Pero Padre Félix no cansa nunca construyendo el reino de Dios. Padre Félix no tiene pelo en la lengua. Habla sobre la justicia y el amor cada día. Inclusive, pero con mucho respeto le llamó la atención su falta de tratar con justica de gente deambulante de nuestro pueblo de New Smyrna. La palabra de Dios nos reta. Seamos valientes y fuertes en vivir y anunciar el reino de Dios…por supuesto viviendo ese reino primero. Si me quieren enviar un comentario: tdeely7352@hotmail.com