In the Gospel from today?s Mass (Mk 10:46-52), we hear the story of the blind man named Bartimaeus. While Bartimaeus was begging by the roadside, Jesus walked by and the blind man cried out, ?Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.? Immediately many people told him to be quiet, but he continued to cry out to the Lord. Eventually, Jesus called him over and asked what he wanted. Bartimaeus replied, ?Master, I want to see.? Our Lord then healed his blindness, telling him ?your faith has saved you.?

Whenever you choose to trust in the Lord or pray for a seemingly impossible healing or intention, it is almost certain that someone will try to discourage you. They will remind you that it is unlikely that your intention will be answered because it is ?impossible?. Often the individual discouraging you and putting doubt in your mind is none other than Satan. While he may not appear to you in a visible form, he has a way of planting little doubts and discouraging thoughts in your mind.

Anyone who tells you that Jesus can?t do the impossible is a LIAR! Take comfort in the story of Bartimaeus and never stop praying for your intentions. While Jesus didn?t promise that we will get exactly what we what, He did promise that we will get what we need. If you still doubt, remember the words that the angel Gabriel spoke to Our Blessed Mother?

Nothing will be impossible for God (Lk 1:37)

In today?s First Reading (Rom 6:19-23), St. Paul reminds us that by virtue of our baptism we becomes ?slaves of God?. While formerly we were ?slaves of sin?, the Church teaches that all baptized Christians are ?reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.? (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213)

Many Catholics don?t realize that they are called to share in the mission of the Church by following the commandments and even by?evangelization! While that word may strike fear into the hearts of most Catholics it really is our duty to spread the ?Good News?. Does this mean that we have to stand on street corners and proclaim the gospel? While you could choose to use this method, it?s not the only way. We can evangelize in our homes by living good, holy lives and by teaching our children about the faith. In the workplace, we could offer to pray for coworkers and refrain from profane language. We could evangelize in public by making the sign of the cross and saying grace before we eat in a restaurant. There are many ways to spread the gospel in our daily lives, often without saying a word.

As ?slaves of God?, this is what we are called to do. The benefit of eternal life comes with a price. We must die to our sinful ways and become new creations in Christ. Is it worth it? What?s in it for us? According to St. Paul?

?But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, ETERNAL LIFE.? (Rom 6:22)

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul tells us the following about Abraham:

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, ?So shall your descendants be.? He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah?s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that he was able to do what He had promised.? (Romans 4:18-21)

Are there things in your life that seem ?impossible?? Such things as broken relationships, financial difficulties, medical problems and other situations often seem hopeless, but scripture tells us that ?with God nothing will be impossible? (Lk 1:37).

Abraham truly believed that?

Do you?

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Born in France in 1647, she was especially devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was responsible for spreading that devotion throughout the Church. In one of her letters, St. Margaret Mary wrote:

?It seems to me that our Lord?s earnest desire to have His Sacred Heart honored in a special way is directed toward renewing the effects of redemption in our souls. For the Sacred Heart is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to His good pleasure. This Divine Heart is an abyss of all blessings, and into it the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need?

Today, let’s take a few minutes and meditate on the love contained within the Sacred Heart of Jesus for each one of us. It is a love that will never cease, no matter what we do. By turning away from sin, following His commands, and loving one another we can show Our Lord that we love Him too. While it can be difficult…

It’s nowhere near as difficult as dying on a cross

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us. Amen.

As Catholics, we are blessed to have an unchanging body of teaching that has been passed down from Our Lord to the apostles and their successors. Today?s readings point out that while we should lovingly share these Church teachings with our brothers and sisters, we MUST practice what we preach.

While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Lk 11:27-28)

While at first it appears that Jesus is putting His mother down, He is actually giving her praise because of her obedience to God?s will. Mary performed her role as the mother of God exceptionally, but her willingness to obey God?s commands was even more praiseworthy. By saying what He did, Jesus reminded the crowd (and all of us) that those who obey the commandments occupy a special place in the kingdom of God. Sometimes it?s not easy to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, but doing so guarantees that we will remain close to Our Lord.

When most of us think of the wedding feast at Cana, we rightfully focus on the Lord?s first miracle. However, there is another important subplot to this story?the power of the Blessed Mother?s intercession. When relating the details of this event (Jn 2:1-11), the apostle John states, ?On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.? He then continues, ?Jesus was also invited to the marriage, with His disciples.? Most scripture scholars will tell you that John?s gospel is very detail oriented and there is a reason for everything he says. Do you think it?s just a coincidence that he highlights Mary?s presence or is it possible he was trying to tell us that she plays an important role in this miracle?

When Mary notices that the wine has run out, she informs Jesus and He performs the miracle of turning water into wine. Not only are the bride and groom spared a great deal of embarrassment, but something even more important takes place ? His disciples believed in Him. (Jn 2:11)

Mary was at the wedding…

Mary informed Jesus that there was a problem…

Jesus fixed the problem by performing a miracle…

The disciples saw what Jesus did and believed in Him.

Never underestimate the power of Mary?s intercession. Turn to Mary with all of your problems, doubts or fears. Just as at Cana, she will immediately take them to Jesus?who really can perform miracles!

?Your rosary is like a ladder that you climb step by step, drawing you close to our Lady, which means finding Christ. It is a devotion which leads us to Christ through Mary.? (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus)

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. This memorial can be traced back to the victory of the Christian fleet over the Turks in 1571, thus preserving Christianity in Europe. Pope Pius V attributed this victory to the recitation of the Holy Rosary. The rosary is the source of many graces and can be a powerful weapon in our battle against the forces of evil.

If prayed on a regular basis, the rosary will allow you to grow closer to Christ. Just as God gave us Jesus through Mary, the most effective way to become closer to Him is through His Mother. Despite what some people may claim, the rosary is not about ?worshipping Mary??it is about asking our Mother to take us by the hand and lead us to Jesus.

Learn more about the rosary here

The message of mercy is that God loves us ? all of us ?no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC.

A ? Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.

B ? Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.

C ? Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.

(Above excerpt taken from the EWTN Divine Mercy Site)

As we celebrate the feast of Saint Faustina, today would be a great time to reflect on God’s tremendous gift of mercy. Click here For more information about Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion.