Behold the Lamb of God - Message from Monsignor Ken Richards, Vicar General, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica

Behold the Lamb of God: For Sincere Faith Response

By: Msgr. Kenneth D. Richards, Vicar General

We are now in the seventh week of Ordinary Time of the liturgical year. But, I take the opportunity to highlight an invitation from the Gospel of John 1:29 read on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time: “John said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God…’” I recommend this directive, from John, as a theme to accompany each of us for the rest of the year. Let it inspire us to take a closer look at Jesus, a study of Jesus, so that we can learn from Him, deepen our love for Him, and follow Him more closely.

There is the saying: ‘Familiarity breeds contempt.’ Many of us are not aware of the contempt our attitude display toward the scriptures and to Jesus our Lord. But, insofar as renewal, conversion, and deeper love are not the fruit of our encounter with the Gospels, there is contempt for the Word. How? Isaiah reminds us:

For, as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilizing it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat, so it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do (Is 55:10-11).

Therefore, if we are not experiencing ongoing personal conversion and deepening of faith, then the word of God is not being allowed to accomplish what it was meant to do in our lives. This is a sign of disregard for the word of God that requires our faith response.

What to do?

1. Do not allow listening and hearing of scriptures to become routine, and do not be satisfied with knowing about Jesus. These are obstacles that prevent deeper love and conversion as our faith response to Jesus.
2. Be alert when listening or reading the Gospels. Pay particular attention with a deep desire to understand Jesus: what He says and what He does. Nurture a deep desire to act on what you have received, and implore the Holy Spirit to assist your faith response.

With this approach we will behold and be able to respond in faith to the Lamb of God.

Message from Monsignor Ken, Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica -- ADVENT: Time of preparation…Listen to the Word!

During the Advent Season, the church invites us to look forward, in two ways, to the coming of Christ with great expectation.

In one way, we are to recall that we must be vigilant, watching and waiting in prayer, the Lord’s return in glory, the end of time. He will claim as His own, those who have lived faithful lives according to His words. Those who have been unfaithful will be treated accordingly.

In the other way, we are to reenter the experience of the people who awaited the fulfillment of prophecy, the appearance of the Messiah that took place two thousand and ten years ago. This experience comes alive for us during the fourth week of Advent and the celebration of the Christmas Season.

Our expectation for both encounters requires a particular kind of preparation. This preparation must be inspired by the very Word of God…attentive listening to the Word of God.

- Listen with your ears, the proclamation and explanation of the Word.

- Listen with your eye, as you read the Scripture and by your attentiveness to the wonders of creation.

- Listen with your heart, as the Spirit of God speaks within you, giving understanding to what you have heard and seen.

In listening we must seek the Divine Revelation…what are you saying to me Lord…and how can your will for me be accomplished? Our acceptance of God’s will, avails us the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Hence, like Mary the Mother of our Lord, we must commit to doing God’s will: I am the servant of the Lord, let your will be done (Luke 1:38).

I wish for you a blessed Advent Preparation of conversion and growth!

Msgr. Kenneth D. Richards

Stand your ground in right living! Reflections on the End of Time from Monsignor Ken, Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica

The end of the Liturgical year brings into focus the last things in relation to death, the second coming, judgment, and hell. The ending of time! Indeed, mankind lives in between the present reality and the anticipated end of the ages. This anticipation is marked either by anxiety and fear regarding our individual destiny while for others the anticipation is filled with hope regarding the fulfillment of God’s promise regarding the destiny of the righteous. Luke invites us to remain mindful of the end, but, in so doing, to avoid the fear and anxiety that is ultimately meaningless.

The Gospel of Luke, chapters 9- 20, had us journeying with Jesus as He resolutely proceeded toward Jerusalem. During this journey the Gospel writer had us listening to instructions from Jesus that informed us of the values, qualities and requirements of the true disciple who, as pilgrim, must resolutely proceed toward the heavenly Jerusalem.

The Gospel of Luke also relates the account of Jesus, who, having arrived in Jerusalem, enters a discussion by His disciples about the magnificence of the Temple. Jesus interjects that the destruction of the temple would take place in the not too distant future. However, Jesus went on to clarify that the destruction of the Temple would have nothing to do with prophesy about the end of the ages. This clarification is a corrective for the association persons, then and in future, make regarding various events and signs as indications that the end of time is near. The implication is that the end of time and these events, which are bound to happen, are basically unrelated and separate occurrences. Hence, any wish that there will be signs and portents to warn us of the end must be put aside. It is a wicked and faithless generation that is eager for a sign…, Jesus remarks in Mt. 12: 39 and Mt. 16:4. St. Augustine also suggests, it is the faithless person, the person who loves their sin more than the Lord who will live in fear and anxiety for portent to warn of the end.

Luke 21:5-19 says, "And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once." Then he said to them, "Nations will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven." But he said, ‘Take care not to be deceived… Your perseverance will win you your lives.’

So what should Christians do awaiting the end of time? For sure, the fear and anxiety of the faithless cannot be a personal characteristic preoccupation of the faithful. For what sort of love of Christ is it to fear His coming says Augustine. Therefore, be vigilant, stand your ground so that your hearts will not be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life (Luke 21:34).

Faithful and active witness is the Christian’s obligation in every age and at every time. For the Jamaican context, the current requirement is for a dispassionate observation and response to current happenings in our country. It does not require prophetic prediction that our nation is on a morally destructive course. There is a prevalent looseness regarding sexual morality and the painful disrespect for life. One too many persons from every walk of life are pursuing self interest and apparent self deception bent on hopeless deception of the populace. In too many instances, truth and integrity are being sacrificed on the altar of expediency. In the legal realm, the value of procedure is being undermined as it is tossed about by proponents and defense not to seek justice and truth but used for power play and one-upmanship. In the wider society, personal loyalties unashamedly see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, by the deafening silence in some quarters, or ridiculous defensive arguments in other quarters.Mindful of the end of time, knowing that the Lord will come in glory, that He will judge the world with justice and his people with truth, that He will reward each according to his deeds... let persons of faith live not in fear and anxiety for a sign for how and when to exercise faith; but looking resolutely to the heavenly Jerusalem, embody the values and qualities of the true disciple, obedient to Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life, and stand your ground in right living! He who has ears to hear let them hear!

Message from Monsignor Ken, Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica -- Reflections on Mercy and God's Almighty Power

Mercy Flows From God’s Almighty Power

Synopsis of Sunday’s Homily (31 October 2010)

by Msgr. Kenneth D. Richards, Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica

Who am I? I am created in the image and likeness of God. God is love. God created me with love. God created me, subject of His love. God created me to love… to love Him, to love self and to love others. When I fail to love God by my disobedience, a distortion (sin) arises in my relationship with God. This leads to a distortion of self love and a distortion in my love for my fellowman.

God, all powerful, seeks not to destroy me because of my distortion – sin. Rather, the Lord seeks to remove the distortion because He loves me.

In the book of Wisdom 11:23—12:2 we read: Yet you are merciful to all, because you are almighty, you overlook people’s sins, so that they can repent. Yes, you love everything that exists, and nothing that you have made disgusts you, since, if you had hated something, you would not have made it. And how could a thing subsist, had you not willed it? Or how be preserved, if not called forth by you? For your imperishable spirit is in everything! And thus, gradually, you correct those who offend; you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you. Lord.

When Zacchaeus repented because he experienced mercy, Jesus says: Today salvation has come to this house… for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost (Luke 19:9-10).

Like Zacchaeus, may each one make a favourable and practical response to the saving mercy of God who loves us!

Peace,

Msgr. Ken

Message from Monsignor Ken, Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica -- Reflections on Mission Sunday

Participation Necessary for Mission

By Msgr. Kenneth D. Richards

The celebration of mission Sunday is the occasion for each Catholic to commit/recommit to participation in the Church’s apostolate of proclaiming the Gospel to all peoples. This commitment or recommitment must be the response to the charge Jesus gives to His disciples: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all I have commanded you. I am with you always until the end of this world" (Mt. 28: 19-20).

Mission is most effective when all members of the Church are involved in witnessing to the Gospel in all aspects of their lives. Therefore, each of us must nurture personal zeal to participate in the mission of the Church by renewing/ deepening our union with Jesus Christ through personal prayer that inflames our love for Him.

In addition, united action, necessary for effective mission activity, must be assured by nurturing faith in the real presence of Christ when celebrating the Eucharist. From these two actions we will be equipped to fulfill and make effective the proclamation of the Gospel to all people.

Message from Monsignor Ken, Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica -- Thanksgiving Sunday, marking the beginning of Heritage Week 2010

Thought from the celebration of Thanksgiving Sunday marking the beginning of Heritage Week 2010.

Belief and Mutual Respect

As a Christian, the One Whom we believe in and what we believe in is fundamental for our world view and vision. In other words, the nature of our belief forms our "raison d'être" ... the motivation for our choices and actions.
One element of Christian belief is that God who is Love, created us in His own image with love, to be loved and to love. This fact marks the dignity of each individual. The value of the individual is further highlighted by the action of God who through His Son, Jesus Christ, dwelt in our human nature and condition ... suffered grievously, died and rose again to restore human dignity that was overshadowed by sin.

Hence, the act of creation and our redemption mark the high value with which God holds humankind and therefore the regard we should have of self and others.

Acknowledging this fact must establish the personal regard we ought to have of self and others such that we facilitate conditions for human respect and advancement.

We can surmise that the above understanding of human dignity permeated the choice, action and sacrifice of our National Heroes and Heroine. Let us embody this understanding to enlighten our personal commitment to making respect for each person underlie our every choice and action. In this way Jamaicans may under God increase in beauty, fellowship and understanding; leading us to play our part in advancing the human dignity of the whole human race.

Peace,
Msgr. Kenneth D. Richards
Vicar General
Rector Holy Trinity Cathedral.