Saint Peter Damian

St. Peter Damian was born at Ravenna, in Italy. His parents died when he was a child and he was left an orphan. He went to live with an older brother who mistreated him badly. He often left him hungry and starving and made him look after his herd of swine to earn his keep. Another brother named Damian found out about the trouble little Peter was having and brought him to his own home.

That was when Peter's life changed completely. He was treated with love, affection and care. He was so grateful that when he joined a religious order he took the name Damian after his loving brother. Damian educated Peter and encouraged his studies.

Peter later became a great teacher and taught at the university while he was in his twenties. But the Lord was directing him in ways he could never have thought of.

Peter lived in times when many people in the Church were more interested in collecting wealth. Peter realized that the Church is divine and has the grace from Jesus to save all people. He wanted the Church to shine with the holiness of Jesus.

After seven years of teaching, he decided to become a Benedictine monk. He wanted to live the rest of his life in prayer and penance. He would pray and make sacrifice so that many people in the Church would become holy. His health suffered when he tried to replace sleep with prayer.

He went to a monastery of St. Romuald and wrote a rule for the monks. He also wrote about the life of their holy founder, Romuald. Peter wrote many books about religious studies to help people deepen their faith.

Twice his abbot sent him to neighboring monasteries so he could help the monks change their lives so that they could live closer to God. The monks were grateful because Peter was so kind and respectful.

Peter was finally called from the monastert. He became a bishop and a cardinal. He was sent on very important missions for various popes throughout his long life. St. Peter Damian died in 1072 at the age of sixty-five. Because he was a champion of truth and a peacemaker, he was declared Doctor of the Church in 1828.

An eye for an eye (It is not fair to fight back)

Jesus is asking us to "Turn to them the other cheek also" ... What does this mean?

Imagine a scene. One child pushes another, the other reacts by hitting him, the one who pushed then hits back, soon the two of them are involved in a fight.

What do you think? If someone pushes you, isn't it ok to push back? If someone hit you, is it not fair to hit back?

Jesus invites us His followers, "Not to hit back, but to offer the other cheek too." He goes even further and say "Love your enemies" and you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. What a wonderful reward for those who choose not to retaliate. Let us ask God to help all of us and give us strength, to do so.

Father, most times I want to strike back when someone hurt me or call me names. Give me the courage to do as Jesus taught and "Turn the other cheek."

Chair of Saint Peter

Saint Peter was the prince of the apostles and the first pope. Jesus said to him, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). The name Peter means rock.

After Jesus went back to Heaven, St. Peter preached the Gospel. He guided the small but growing Christian community. At first, Peter worked hard in Jerusalem and in Antioch, two big cities of the east. Later, he went to preach the Gospel in Rome, the capital of the world.

How would Peter carry out his great mission for the Lord? Jesus, his Master had been crucified but then had risen from the dead. Who would believe that?

The evils of the Roman Empire did not believe in the living God would drown his voice no matter how dedicated he may be.

But the Holy Spirit was alive in Peter. He boldly took up the ministry Jesus had given to him. Never again would Peter deny his Lord. Never again would Peter put his own personal well-being before the good of the Church.

The feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome reminds us that St. Peter started the Christian community in that city. The special chair is a symbol of the authority that was given to him by Jesus. Kings of old sat on thrones and ruled. Peter's chair is a symbol of his authority from Jesus to rule the Church.

St. Peter was put to death and died a martyr for his faith in Jesus, but down through the ages there has always been a bishop of Rome. He is the pope. The pope rules the whole Church, as St. Peted did, in Jesus' name. We call the successor of St. Peter the Holy Father.

Scriptural Reflection

Are images important? In ancient times, the world was dominated by paganism. Pagan religious were many and their beliefs and worship differed in comparison. Their images took varying forms, from replicas of grotesque and unknown creatures to animals, birds, fishes, and half animal and half human adaptations. While idolatrous image worship was common to all these religious, immoral manifestations were an integral part of worship among some of them. In later times, images began to serve a religious purpose in the Christian faith as well, which was quite independent of any pagan influence and pagan affiliation to images.

The Scriptures tell us that images were not used in worship by God's people during the time of the Patriarchs and Moses. At that time, they identified God as the sole supernatural divine entity to whom worship was due. The scriptures do not say that the people attempted to make or made an image to represent Him. If they did, such an image would have been contemptuous of His Divine profile. Besides this, they did not know His outward distinctiveness as He is a spirit nobody had seen.

It was only God's people who knew Him as the true God and worshipped Him in word and deed. It could be seen that image worship was not a part of the Mosaic faith which the Israelites followed. In that background, God did not want idolatrous image worship, which was sinful, to make its way to the religious doman of the Mosaic faith. In due time, God asked His people not to make any carved image and not to bow down before it in worship, as such worship being sinful would offend Him. God's commandment in Exodus 20: 4 - 5 reads: "Do not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them." A violation of this Commandment would have deprived them of God's protection and exposed them to the dangers of satanic response.

Likewise the Scripture in Deuteronomy 4 : 16 - 18 reads: "Therefore, do not become corrupted: Do not make an idol or a god carved in the form of a man or of a woman, or in the form of any animal that lives on the earth, or of any kind of bird that flies in the sky, or of any reptile that crawis on the earth, or of any fish that lives in the water under the earth. When you look at the heavens and you see the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the heavenly bodies, do not prostrate yourself to adore or serve them as gods." This Scripture text clearly refers to the images that the Exodus text deals with and, in addition, to the constellations in the remote regions beyond, not considered divine in God's realm which cannot be made objects of worship.

The Exodus & Deuteronomy scriptures dealt with image worship that was sinful in God's ideology. God's people who followed the Mosaic faith were forbidden from "making any image" for worship, that is, an image of a false god or an image to be used as a medium to represent God in worship. They were also prevented from making images of pagan god's used by the Canaanite pagans in idolatrous worship. In enforcing this prohibition, God intended to prevent His people from using these images in competitive or alternative worship against Him. Being a spirit who had not been seen by any human, it was inconsistent with the Scriptures for them to make an image to represent Him in afictitious.

These two scriptures have to be viewed in their transparancies as being relevant to the present time as well. They preclude Christians from indulging in the worship of images of false Gods. The words "in the form of a man or woman" in the Deuteronomy text refer to objects of worship that are outside God's divine realm and, in that sense, these words do not refer to image of divine entities of the Christian faith used in present day worship.

Some sources that are critical of the use of images in the Christian faith say: Did God's attitude change with the introduction of Christianity? No, for the Bible shows the Cristians likewise avoided the use of images. (Acts 17 : 29). This Scripture in the Acts explains that God should not be thought of as anything material as a statue, whether of "gold, silver or stone." This does not deal with the use of other religious images in the Christian faith.

As we would perceive, the Exodus and Deuteronomy texts do not forbid image worship as such but "sinful image worship" that would be a hindrance to believers in worshipping God. This does not happen in the Christian faith. To Christians the worship of God is supreme and independent of image worship.

In healthcare, we are responsible to the most vulnerable

When it comes to healthcare and using our resources wisely, we have a responsibility to protect and take care of the most vulnerable in society, especially the elderly.

To optimize resources means to use them in an ethical and responsible manner and not to penalize the most fragile.

It is necessary to be vigilant, especially when patients are elderly with a heavily compromised health, if they are suffering from serious and costly diseases for their care or are particularly difficult, such as psychiatric patients.

There have been years marked by strong social and cultural changes and today we can see a situation with light and shadow.

Together with lights, though, there are some shadows that threaten to exacerbate the experience of our sick brothers and sisters. The most important thing is that the dignity of the sick person is always at the centre of all healthcare, because when it is not, the attitudes caused can lead people to take advantage of the misfortunes of others. And this is very serious!

Business models of healthcare which, instead of optimizing the available resources, instead consider most people to be a type of "human waste". When money is the guiding principle of policies in healthcare and administrative decisions, there can be a temptation to lose the protections to the right to healthcare.

Rather, the growing health poverty among the poorest segments of the population, due precisely to the difficulty of access to care, should not leave anyone indifferent and multiply the efforts of all because the rights of the most vulnerable are protected.

In the present context, where the answer to the question of the most fragile health is becoming more difficult, do not even hesitate to rethink our works of charity to offer a sign of God's mercy to the poor that, with confidence and hope, knock on the doors of our structures. One of St. John Paul II's goals for the World Day of the Sick, in addition to promoting the culture of life.

There are many patients in hospitals, of course, but there are many more people in their homes and frequently alone.

I hope that are visited frequently, so they do not feel excluded from the community and they can experience, because of the proximity of one who meets them, the presence of Christ which passes now in the midst of the sick in body and spirit.

I praise the advancements in scientific research which have found cures for some diseases, or eradicated them altogether, while noting that we can't forget also the more rare and neglected diseases, which are not always given due attention, with the risk of giving rise to further suffering. In the first place is the inviolable dignity of every human person from the moment of conception until its last breath.

I praise the Lord for the many health professionals with the knowledge and belief that they live their work as a mission, ministers of life and participate in the effusive love of God the Creator. Their hands touch every day the suffering flesh of Christ, and this is a great honor and a serious responsibility.

Likewise, we welcome the presence of many volunteers who, with generosity and competence, are working to alleviate and humanize the long and difficult days of so many sick and lonely elderly people, especially the poor and needy.

We are unique. Why compare ourselves with others?

"Everyone else is doing amazing things with their lives. I want to be happy and successful like them. But it just makes me crazy when I realize how far behind I am."

Is this you talking?

Probably yes!

Many people are suffering today thinking that they are inadequate or far behind in some way compared to the other people.

Compared to others!

This is where the glitch is! 'Comparison!'.

In fact the habit of comparing ourselves with others is a killer of our peace of mind and joy. It disturbs our progress and robs us of our precious time.

"Comparison is the thief of joy" said Theodore Roosevelt.

Do you know you are unique?

Unique means there is nobody like you on this planet for sure. It's true. You are unique, you are special and there is only one person like you in this whole wide world. There are things that only you can do. There are special things that God has given only to you, and all what you have to do is to do better each passing day.

Be perfect as your heavenly Father, said Jesus. This is a reminder for us to do our very best with our lives.

Whether you are a writer, musician, driver, doctor, landscaper, mother, student, priest, nun, wife, son or anybody, you have a unique personality backed by unique experiences and unique gifts. You have the capacity to love, serve and contribute. You have everything you need to improve yourself and  accomplish good in your little space of the world. With that opportunity squarely in front of you, be thankful for all your gifts and try to do your best each passing day  to become a better person in every aspect.

You don't have to worry about the house the other person built, the new car your neighbour bought, the exam your colleague passed and you failed, the fabulous wedding someone had.

No, Never! Never compare ourselves, our appearance, achievements or possessions with those of others.

How often do we compare ourselves with someone less fortunate than we? If we do that we will always find that we are more fortunate than many. We will realize that we are blessed really.

Michaelangelo said, "every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."

We are the sculptors of our own future. How well we do our own sculpting task is what is important. It doesn't matter what anyone else is doing with their block of stone. The statue they are liberating is their lookout. But how well we are doing with our own block of stone is our business.

If we start comparing, there will be no end. We have nothing to gain by comparing, but much to lose.

So determine not to compare ourselves with anyone. Only compare our old self to the new improved version of ourselves. Be aware of our past successes and find motivation in the to pursue more.

If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and We shall come to him - John 14 : 23

The Lord wants His people to be holy because He is holy. For this reason they should love their neighbour, hold no grudges against them. St. Paul writes to the Corinthian community reminding them that they are temples of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in them. This is God's gift and anyone who destroys them, will be treated harshly. Jesus presents His way of life. Earlier, one's lifestyle was based on justice but now it is based on love. Here Jesus calls on His followers for a greater and more perfect way of living.

As children of God we are His temples and His Spirit dwells in us. On no account should we destroy His temple and thereby lose its holiness. Therefore we should live in love with our brothers, sisters and neighbours. In order to remain holy we should also love. There was a time when people lived unjust lives. Then during the period of Moses it was turned to justice. But today Jesus demands that our love should extend far beyond merely being just and anyone who lives in love lives in God and God too lives in him, and in him there is holiness. This is the type of holiness that is called for in this writting.

Moses asking his people to be holy as God is holy. In order that life be worthy of God, they are exhorted to love their neighbour too. They should not hate their brother nor bear any grudge against him. This implies that it is not just a matter of not doing any evil against our neighbor but even those which we ought: but do not do in order to save our brother also matter. In other words we should not only do no harm against our neighbour but even go to the extent of doing something to save him. All these should be done for the love of our neighbor, thereby preserving the holiness of our lives.

We are the temples of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in us. Therefore we ought to protect this temple lest God destroys us. God's temple is holy and the Holy Spirit lives in it. That is the reason why we should be holy in our lives. We should not rely on human efforts or on our powers alone to attain this holiness, but place ourselves totally in the hands of God. God's glory should shine in us forever.

Christ's call is for people to live in love. Therefore it is a call for love beyond justice. This is quite clear from what Jesus said: "You have heard that it was said, 'eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' but I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone strike you on the right cheek turn to him the other side also: and if anyone would sue you to take your coat, let him take your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you and do not refuse him who would borrow from you." This is the perfect way of living that is found in the life of Christ. Now He wants us to imitate Him and be holy as He is.