Sep 17 – Memorial for St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor
St. Robert (1542-1621) wrote the most complete work of his day to defend Catholicism against Protestant attack. He also wrote a children’s catechism and a catechism for teachers. As cardinal-priest, he gave most of his money to the poor. At one point he used the tapestries in his living quarters to clothe the poor, saying that “the walls won’t catch cold”.
He was involved in settling various disputes, including that of King James I and the Vatican in 1607 and 1609, concerning control of the Church in England, action against Galileo Galilei with whom he established a friendly correspondence, but was forced to deliver the order for the scientist to submit to the Church, and issues concerning clerical discipline and Vatican authority. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 17 September 1931.
- Patron Saint Index
1 Tim 3:14-16
Lk 7:31-35
‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
Both today’s and tomorrow’s readings feature the stark contrast of good and evil that is played out every day, to this day — fighting within the family of God. And it all begins with the lies the enemy spews.
If you turn on any news in America, you will hear a version of today’s gospel over the airways. When my candidate does A or B, it’s a good thing, when your candidate does A or B, it’s a bad thing. It’s okay for my party to point out C and D, but when your party points out C and D they are racist, misogynists, etc. The hypocrisy drips like a waterfall, yet, each side seems to be completely blind to their own hypocrisy. Blind to realizing they too, are fabricating… i.e. lying. Unwilling to admit that they might be less than perfect. And this cycle repeats itself. And repeats itself. And repeats itself.
And the enemy sits on the sidelines laughing and egging each side on. And it’s been this way since, well, even before Cain killed Abel.
The enemy is always lying. Always attacking. Always confusing. Always tempting. No one this side of heaven is out of his reach. The fallen angel chose self over God and has been working non-stop since then to get any and all of us to join him. He is a master at lying — a magician, a shameless con artist, an illusionist and a commander of deceptive words. A tool that the enemy continues to sharpen. He knows what buttons to push for every individual, and he pushes. And he pushes. And he pushes.
He shades the light so perfectly that greed seems like a right and compassion seems like a weakness. He lifts the individual to serve his purpose — disguising greed, lust, envy, wrath, sloth, gluttony and pride — and teaching to sublimely focus on self at all costs. The enemy is many things (that ultimately bring a thousand deaths to the heart and soul of a person) because he has rejected all love, by rejecting God.
Yet the enemy loses – for all eternity. And yet to this day, he continues to be a formidable opponent because he has learned to easily engage us in his fight against God. He has made our attacking each other into a game, by making us believe it is a righteous game and that we, of course (!) are on the right side.
In 1 Timothy, we read, “…you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God…”. And of course, we do know how to behave; but we don’t, do we? We behave in a manner that is convenient, often based on the group we are with at the moment. We stand up for our Catholic faith when we are with other Catholics, but we often sit quietly when we are with non-Catholics, and even will remain silent when we are with those who don’t believe in Christ, or even God. We can rationalize that we are in the workplace, and we shouldn’t mix our religious beliefs with work/this group/right now. And thereby, the point is proved – the lies of the enemy on the sidelines win.
If Jesus followed our example, he would have never stood up to the Pharisees, to Pontius Pilate, to Herod…. He would have never stood up for us — and therefore, he wouldn’t have had to be scourged and crucified. It’s a dire thought, isn’t it?
So what are we to do to keep from falling in line and allowing the lies of the devil to prevail? What can we do to be who God created us to be, and not simply a Catholic who only stands for our faith during mass?
Commit to a daily practice, even if you can just spare five (more) minutes a day. Spend more quiet one on one time with our Heavenly Father. Meditate while looking at a picture of Jesus. Begin to simply journal or talk to the Father, the Son and/or the Holy Spirit as if they were your best friend, the one who knows and understands you, who always has your back, who would never judge you or leave you. A best friend who will support you and encourage you to be your best; to expect more of yourself as a human being and to not worry what anyone thinks of you. A best friend who will lift you and not allow you to descend to the false comfort of any place that is below. Contemplate that THE CREATOR of everything wanted you alive and loves you more intimately, and more fully, for all eternity. Accept the truth of His love.
Brothers and sisters, rejoice, because heaven is open and you were created to be a saint.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Father God, help me to live the truth of being Yours.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for giving me enough faith to being this journey of becoming a saint. Help me to reject the enemy in all his forms and all his lies. Give me the grace to be protected from his voice and the wisdom to listen only to You -– and to share the truth of You at any time in any place.
OXYGEN 
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