No Fears and No Pride

Alex Ovechkin

Abraham Lincoln is 200 years old. The Capitals lost a heartbreaker in Madison Square Garden on a shootout last night. And we are NOT worried about any Friday the Thirteenth.

To fear Friday the 13th is a type of superstition. “Divination” seeks knowledge about the course of events from dates, signs in the sky, or other auguries.

God provides for us every day of every month. To be afraid of Friday the 13th is a sin against the First Commandment.

Nonetheless, if you have an orange bathmat or doormat, make sure to use it on Saturday.

Stomp on anything orange, especially between noon and 2:00 p.m…

…How did Notre Dame just manage to beat Louisville by 33 points?

…Okay, here is today’s homily:

A man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh (Genesis 2:24)

St. Paul wrote that the union of man and wife is a great mystery, because it “refers to Christ and the Church” (Ephesians 5:32).

Christ lived and died a celibate man. He ascended into heaven a celibate man. But He has a Bride. The Church is His bride. He gave His life for us. His entire Sacred Heart is bent on saving His Church.

She begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”

She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” (Mark 7:26-29)

The Lord attracted people. This Gentile woman came to Him and threw herself at His feet. She did not stand on ceremony. She did not assert any prerogatives. She knew she had no rights. She begged.

In her, we can see the Church. She is us.

We have no rights before God. We have no prerogatives. He owes us nothing. Our part is to beg.

The Church throws Herself at the feet of the Lord and begs for mercy. She begs God to take care of Her. The prayers of the Holy Mass, all the sacraments, all the ceremonies–all the prayers of the Church express this. The Church is a Gentile woman on Her knees at Christ’s feet.

But we are His beloved Bride! He will hear our prayers. He will lift us up.