Tag: St. Paul

Joy Amid Trials and Rumors of War – Gaudete Sunday

On By Deacon Paul O. IaconoIn Catechesis, Catechetics, Catholic, Christianity, discipleship, Epistles of St. Paul, Joy, Joy in St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Philippians 1: 1-11, Religious Education, Roman Catholic, St. PaulLeave a comment

The third Sunday of Advent is celebrated as Gaudete Sunday and it marks the middle of the Advent season. In ecclesiastical Latin, “gaudete” means “rejoice” and is symbolized by the rose-colored candle in the Advent wreath. 

This Sunday’s reading from St. Paul may give you a sense of pause. You may say: “You mean I’m to rejoice even if I have just lost my job, or my spouse is very ill, or my husband, wife, or child has abandoned me and wants nothing to do with me?”

Remarkably, St. Paul’s message is “Yes, give thanks, and rejoice!”  That is a hard pill to swallow. Although, let’s be careful. He is not saying for us to put on blinders and happily skip down the yellow brick road. St. Paul had plenty of trials and accusations leveled against him. His epistles to the various churches of Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy are filled with numerous personal problems and tribulations. Chained, beaten, and thrown into prison Paul came face-to-face with trouble, understood its meaning, and in the end, smiled.

“St. Paul in Prison” by Rembrandt, 1627

An example of this is in Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, (composed between 52 and 62 AD, source: The Jerusalem Bible, chapter 1, verses 1-11, and following),

“1:1) From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, together with their presiding elders and deacons.

1:2) We wish you the grace and peace of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:3) I thank my God whenever I think of you; and (1:4) every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, (1:5) remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present. (1:6) I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes.

1:7) It is only natural that I should feel like this towards you all, since you have shared the privileges which have been mine: both my chains and my work defending and establishing the Gospel. You have a permanent place in my heart, (1:8) and God knows how much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you.

1:9) My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception, (1:10) so that you can always recognize what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, (1:11) when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.”

St. Paul links the ability to possess sincere joy with prayer. Our spiritual, and possibly physical survival, depends on our developing a sincere daily prayer life. Regardless of whether it is long or short the heart of all prayer is a conversation with our Lord. This conversation can only occur when we perceive reality as a trusting and knowledgeable child of God rather than that of a secular adult; however, we must “be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10: 16).

On Gaudete Sunday we rejoice that our faith and trust in His love will enable us to endure any tribulation; and this gives us the strength to love and serve Him by loving, serving, and praying for one another. 

My family and I hope you have a prayerful Advent and a joy-filled Christmas season! May God bless you and your families.

Copyright © 2011- 2024 by Deacon Paul O. Iacono – All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint essays in their entirety and/or my personal paintings must be obtained from me by using the comment box and making a comment/request on the post. I will respond to you through answering in the comment box. Students, and those interested, may quote small sections of my essays as long as the proper credit and notation is given. Thanks.

The Apocalypse and Christian Duty – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

On By Deacon Paul O. IaconoIn Catholic Spirituality, Catholicism, Christian Spirituality, Christianity, Epistles of St. Paul, Gospel Reflections, Gospel Teachings, Gospels of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Religion, Roman Catholic, St. Paul, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It has been said that we are living between times – between Advents – in the times between Christ’s first coming – as an infant in the manger, and His second coming – as Lord and Judge of this earth. Our Scriptures challenge us today – the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – with an important question: “Do my actions in public and private indicate that I am a disciple of Christ, dutifully preparing to meet the Lord?”

You see, we could spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out the signs of the times, discussing this visionary and that seer, trying to determine whether or not we are in the actual last days before the Second Coming. We could speculate on how various personalities in the media discuss the deterioration of political effectiveness, the degradation of cultural discourse, or our precarious economic situation. We could also become unsettled over the apocalyptic scenario of what continues to occur at the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, the possible demise of its nuclear core, and the resulting catastrophic impact on the Pacific region.

Troubled times were also prevalent two thousand years ago when St. Paul penned his letters to the Greeks of Thessaly. St. Paul was alarmed that the gossiping about current events and apocalyptic speculations were causing disruptive behavior. The Greek word that Paul uses to describe their behavior refers “to actions that interrupt the truthful announcement and living out” of the Good News of Christ. He carefully tells us that these alarmists are false prophets if they are causing such unease as to reduce the effectiveness and the realization of the Gospel in the lives of the people.

So what does Jesus and St. Paul suggest?

First, we need to take them seriously and not be overly concerned about when the last days will come. Christians should be alert – but not worry; rather, like Noah upon hearing the word of God, they should prepare and rejoice. We need not worry because we have plenty to do in the interim by concentrating our attention on our duties to love God with our whole heart and our whole soul, repent of our sins, and love and assist our neighbors, too.

St. Paul, echoing Christ, is very specific on this point, he says, “Your love must be sincere. Detest what is evil, cling to what is good. Love one another with the affection of brothers and sisters. Anticipate each other in showing respect. Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He whom you serve is the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, and persevere in prayer.” (Romans 12: 9-12)

Let us pray that whatever the role we find ourselves in, we faithfully carry out the duties the Holy Spirit has asked us to complete. Each of our jobs and duties are important in the eyes of God. How, and in what spirit we perform them affects our life, and the lives of others, both on earth and in eternity. So let us be worthy of the trust, love, and friendship that Jesus has for us. If we do that, and live in the prayer and grace-filled life of His Word and Sacraments, we will have nothing to fear.

Copyright © 2011- 2013 Deacon Paul O. Iacono All Rights Reserved. I will deliver this homily at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Wakefield, Rhode Island on Sunday November 17, 2013.