Mary's Mercy Center, Inc.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/05/11 Acts 16:22-34/Ps.138:1-3.7-8/Jn. 16:5-11 In John’s gospel today and for the next few days we read of the promises of the Spirit. There are five in all. I will send you the Holy Spirit. He will be with you always. He will teach you of all that I taught you. He will convict the world of sin and righteousness and condemnation. That conviction is an ongoing element in our spiritual journey! We have no excuse like; I didn’t know that it was wrong. Yes, you did; because the Spirit is convicting you! You may for awhile sin and sin, but eventually you can no longer go on, because what was just a thought now becomes reality and you have to change! God does not give up on you when you sin! God works harder, the Spirit makes intercession for us with loud groaning!

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/05/10 St Damien de Veuster, Priest Acts 16:11-15/PS.149:1-6,9/Jn. 15:26-16:4 There is a lot more in us than we know or can imagine. When God is with us we surprise ourselves with what the Spirit is telling us to do! Witness in the first reading Lydia who has just been baptized, invites Paul and Barabbas to come and stay in her house. The gospel explains to us how this could happen. When the Advocate comes he will testify to Me! One of the greatest saints of our time is St. Damien of Molokai. He served the Lepers in Molokai and died there a leper himself! One of his letters, which I read, was to his parents and it spoke of his depression and need for human companionship. It read, Is anyone alive over there? (Meaning Belgium)

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/05/09 Sixth Sunday of Easter - Mother’s Day Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48/Ps.98:1-4/1 Jn. 4:7-10/Jn. 15:9-17 Today the focus is on God’s Love! In the first reading the house of Cornelius is blessed with the anointing or baptism of the Holy Spirit! Even these people, God wants to bestow His love on them! Never limit God’s love with, If God loves me then why am I going through all of this? Then is the second reading and also the gospel we get more of His love, Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God! Love only makes sense when God is involved and that love of God gives us joy. The secret is if we love God then automatically, we will love our neighbor.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/05/08 Acts 16:1-10/Ps.100:1-3,5/Jn. 15:18-21 Today in John’s gospel Jesus tells His disciples what to expect and it applies to us as well. What you have to look forward to is basically persecution. ‘If the world hates you realize that it hated Me before you! If they persecuted Me they will persecute you also!’ Another important feature of this is a purging or pruning. It says in the scriptures that God chastises those He loves. That discipline or chastisement is a means of turning us away or making us aware that our behavior does not correspond with a true disciple. As He told James and John It cannot be like that with you!

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/05/07 Acts 15:22-31/Ps.57:8-10,12/Jn. 15:12-17 This is a wonderful time of year. Why? It is the Easter season when Christ, our Passover, has suffered passion, death and resurrection for us, and redeemed us! It is also a time when the readings of the Word focus on the growth and development of the early Church. This is worth our meditation, because even this is a miracle! The gospel is predominantly from John and it is Jesus teaching His disciples some essential truths such as I am the Vine, my Father is the Vine grower! Today he teaches them ‘love one another this is the greatest commandment! You are no longer slaves, but friends because of your relationship with my Father!’ There is no love, physical or otherwise, without God, because God is love!

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/01/19 Readings: Heb 6:10-20/Ps.111:1-2,4-5,9-10/Mk 2:23-28 As a Catholic we are called to be on Fire for the Lord! The first reading today asks us to manifest some eagerness for God. That is a major problem in our lives. Are we on fire for God? A famous evangelist from Los Angeles used to say ‘if you are not on fire for Jesus, it is because your wood is wet! That describes it pretty well! We are passive or lukewarm for Jesus. Jesus had this fire for His Father when it was said of Him, zeal for my father’s house consumes Me! How can we cultivate that zeal? We need to see what Jesus has accomplished in us and live it!

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/01/18 Readings: Heb 5:1-10/Ps.110:1-4/Mk 2:18-22 The Scribes and the Pharisees had difficulty with the teachings of Jesus. They understood all the prophets and the scriptures that referred to Him but could not accept Him as Messiah. He was different and taught against the law of Moses. What they did not understand was that His teaching, while fulfilling the precepts of the law, was new. In the Book of Revelation God says, See I make all things new That is as it is in our lives too. God is making new things and awarenesses in our lives. Do not be a Scribe but be a child of God.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/01/17 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: 1Sm 3:3b-10, 19/Ps.40:2,4,7-10/1Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20/Jn 1:35-42 In the 1st Reading we have the classic story of God’s call! Samuel is called four times by God before he recognizes whom it is that is calling him. Even Eli, the man of God fails to understand. God calls us in so many different ways. On the other hand, we have so many reasons why God wouldn’t call us. We are sinful and that’s t...rue. We are not holy and that is true. We have sinned seriously and that is true. Remember whom God has called. He called Augustine, a confirmed sinner. He called Mary Magdalene, a worse sinner. He called Saul a persecutor of Him. Remember it is not your call on God but God’s call on you! Get rid of pride and hear the call of God! Remember Psalm 94, If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts! See more

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/01/16 Readings: Heb 4:12-16/Ps.19:8-10,15/Mk 2:13-17 When you confess that you are catholic, do you encounter any special feeling or experience? How present is God to you right now! Today’s gospel from Mark recounts the call of Matthew, who was a tax collector and viewed as less in society. He experienced the anger of his people. Yet he had a lucrative job. Such was his encounter with Jesus that he left everything and followed Jesus. This was life changing for Matthew and so it should be for us. The difference for us is that we can have such an encounter daily by just going to Holy Communion and simply pray and abide in Him. Jesus makes it so easy!

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2021/01/15 Readings: Heb 4:1-5, 11/Ps.78:3-4,6-8/Mk 2:1-12 The first reading warns us to be on guard! Be on guard against what? Be on guard against failure and depression. So often we are emotional because of something that comes against us. Satan is an expert at using that to separate us from God. We are the redeemed of the lord. Jesus delights in seeing us as redeemed. We are not lost or depressed as long as Jesus has us. Do we ‘Trust’ in Jesus or listen to our own misfortune? Jesus has overcome. The gospel of the healing of the paralytic is a great example of this. There is no way to get the paralytic to Jesus and yet they are not undaunted, but challenged. They open the roof and lay the paralytic down in front of Jesus for healing. With Jesus there always is a way!

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/28 - Sts Simon & Jude Readings: Eph 2:19-22/PS 19:2-3, 4-5/Lk 6:12-16 Today is the feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude. Simon was from Cana and we know very little about him. Jude is known as Thaddeus and asked Jesus why He had revealed Himself to the Apostles and not to the whole world. The first reading is a very good reading because it tells us that we are strangers no longer but citizens. We now, because of Jesus, belong to God and the kingdom of God.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/27 Readings: Eph 5:21-33/PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5/Lk 13:18-21 The first reading today is a favorite of all men. Why? Because it means husbands are in charge. They miss the point. The rest of the scripture explains it. Wives should be submissive as Christ is to His Church. The Church is subordinate to Christ. There isn’t a woman alive that wouldn’t be submissive to her husband if she knew that her husband’s life was on the line for her.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/26 Readings: Eph 4:32-5:8/PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6/Lk 13:10-17 Be imitators of God. How do we imitate God? We do so by our spiritual life. Our spiritual life must become commonplace for us. That means not only that God is first in our lives but that God is worshipped and His commandments are our guidelines. There is and has to be time for prayer. His sacraments are in our lives as a means of grace. We do and judge every action by God. Does this lead us close to God?

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/25 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Ex 22:20-26/PS 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51/1 Thes 1:5c-10/Mt 22:34-40 The three readings today instruct us about right living. The first one says that we are not to molest or oppress anyone. The second reading says that right people walk among you to teach you. The gospel gives us the golden rule. Love god above all others.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/24 - St Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop Readings: Eph 4:7-16/PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5/Lk 13:1-9 There is a small phrase just before the gospel which should give us great consolation and that phrase is I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man but rather in his conversion. That is a great promise for us.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/23 - St John of Capistrano Readings: Eph 4:1-6/PS 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6/Lk 12:54-59 Do you know who you are in Christ Jesus? God has called and anointed us for Himself and the gospel. If we take seriously the call and anointing of God then we will grow in holiness. One of the worst situations according to God Himself is apathy or lukewarmness. That stunts and blocks our growth in God. We are literally dead in our sins.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/22 - St John Paul II, Pope Readings: Eph 3:14-21/PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19/Lk 12:49-53 Today is the feast of St. John Paul II. Most of us remember him as Pope who strained to bring orthodoxy to the Church. The Church prospered under his papacy. Many would challenge that assumption but given the facts he was a good Pope. The gospel today echoes his thoughts. Jesus says I have come to cause division. This is a fact of life for us. If we choose to follow Jesus Christ then we will always be in contention with the ways of the world. As Jesus told us, You are in the world, but not of the world.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/21 Readings: Eph 3:2-12/ IS 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6/Lk 12:39-48 There is something that we take for granted with the Lord and that is that we are okay. That is true as long as we are aware of what separates us from God. That is the message of the gospel today. We need to be alert and aware of what can come against us. It always starts small and then gets control of us. Witness the person who doesn’t see any need for confession and can go months or years without the grace or protection of the sacrament. In the same sense he or she goes to Eucharist and possibly receives sacrilegious communion. The gospel warns us to be vigilant and alert.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/20 - Saint Paul of the Cross Readings: Eph 2:12-22/PS 85:9AB-10, 11-12, 13-14/Lk 12:35-38 Would you ever consider yourself as alienated from Christ? You probably consider yourself with Christ. Sin separates us from the Lord even venial sin if we persist in it and have an attitude that we are good people. St. Paul asks us Can anything separate us from the love of God? The answer is yes, ourselves. So often we take Christ for granted. The truth is that Jesus never takes us for granted. He wants to save what He has redeemed. I heard the Lord call my name. Listen close you’ll hear the same.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/19 - Sts John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests and Companions, Martyrs Readings: Eph 2:1-10/PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4AB, 4C-5/Lk 12:13-21 The opening sentence of the first reading tells us that we were once dead in our sins but God is rich in mercy and His great love for us brought us to life. What a great power and truth for us who believe. The question remains: are we still dead in our sins or do we not accept the mercy of God. Mercy leads us to life in Christ and a future while the refusal of mercy leads us to death and unfortunately eternal death.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/18 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Is 45:1, 4-6/PS 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10/1 Thes 1:1-5b/Mt 22:15-21 It was a constant battle and struggle for Jesus Christ in His life. Today the Pharisees have a fool proof argument against Jesus and Jesus turns the table on them with Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God. So shall it be for us. We need to recognize what leads us to God and just as important what leads us away from God.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/17 - St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Readings: Eph 1:15-23/PS 8:2-3AB, 4-5, 6-7/Lk 12:8-12 Today is the feast of St Ignatius of Antioch who asked his followers to pray for his martyrdom. The gospel today, brings up two significant concerns. If you deny Jesus He will deny you and the second is that the sin against the Holy Spirit is not and will not be forgiven. What is that sin? It is the sin of not following the Holy Spirit’s urging for us to ask for forgiveness. We don’t want forgiveness despite the fact that God is holding it out for us. Again, it is denial.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/16 - St Hedwig; St Margaret Mary Alacoque Readings: Eph 1:11-14/PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13/Lk 12:1-7 Today we have another significant feast day, which is that of St Margaret Mary Alocoque. The Lord appeared to her and told her Behold this heart which has loved men so much and has received nothing but lukewarmness instead. Jesus made twelve promises to her and from that the Nine First Fridays began and many Orders founded based on devotion to the Sacred heart of Jesus. The bottom line is love as it always has been. Renew your love for Jesus Christ and discover His promises. They are for you.

Fr. Barry's Scripture Reflection for 2020/10/15 - Saint Teresa of Jesus, Doctor of the Church Readings: Eph 1:1-10/PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6/Lk 11:47-54 Today is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. She lived from 1515 till 1582. She was a Carmelite nun and attempted the reform of her Carmelite Order. Because of that she endured much rejection and trials but was instrumental in reforming her order. She lived in the 1500’s but her own house where she lived did not convert till long after her death. That house converted in 1945. She is also a doctor of the church entitled Doctor of Prayer. As the scripture tells us We have to go through many trials and tribulations before we enter the kingdom of God.