A DREAM FROM WHICH THE DIVINE REALITY OF MAN'S REDEMPTION COMES TO LIFE

In Joseph's dream the Angel can speak with serenity and tranquility in the name of God. Why Joseph, whose heart is already prepared to welcome God, now he can understand the details of the divine plan in the light of faith.

 

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Dear Readers and friends of The Island of Patmos,

we all have dreams. We are men and we always tend to welcome our deepest desires and aspirations. So we have an end, a larger and more precise purpose that directs all the other smaller and more daily choices. All our dreams tend to humanize us and make us better because we reflect through them, we put ourselves to the test and are willing to put ourselves on the line.

Joseph also he had his dream. Marry his girlfriend, Maria. He was almost at the pace of the wedding ritual celebration. But Joseph realizes that Mary is pregnant. Like this, suddenly, he is in a drama. His dream breaks. What he had longed for and expected can no longer come true. Maria cannot be his wife. But overcome the initial discouragement, Joseph does not lose heart. With justice towards God and towards Mary herself, he places himself in obedience to the law of Deuteronomy: to avoid stoning she decides to write a letter to break off the engagement in a discreet and confidential way. God helps Joseph and sends him an Angel in a dream. Here then is that Joseph can abandon his dream to enter God's dream. In Joseph's dream the Angel can speak with serenity and tranquility in the name of God. Why Joseph, whose heart is already prepared to welcome God, now he can understand the details of the divine plan in the light of faith.

Joseph learns from the Angel who must name the son of God. To that very special son, willed by the Eternal Father, first person of the Trinity, Joseph is called to give the name. Naming implies having parental authority and offering legal paternity. And Jesus is the son of Joseph by legal means. (D)The name means that God entrusts Joseph with a very important task: proclaim to the world that Jesus, that child who came so mysteriously into her life, it is God who saves the whole world. Joseph thus becomes the first announcer of the name of God who offers the announcement of salvation. Finally God's dream announced in Isaiah is fulfilled and realized [cf.. 7,14]. When Giuseppe wakes up, he has the key to that broken dream in his heart. He earned everything a hundredfold, in God's dream that comes true in him. So he takes Maria with him, as a faithful husband, affectionate groom and a man who is careful and precise in his work and takes care of his bride. Together with Maria, she takes care of and guards that mysterious child. With Mary he teaches him the practices of the Jewish faith. Joseph in his loyal chastity is a fruitful and authentic father for this mysterious son.

God's dream surpasses the human one of Joseph. And it is even more beautiful and unexpected. Writes the biblical scholar Rosalba Manes:

«With Joseph, man returns to being as Genesis presents him to us before sin: lover and custodian of the gifts of God"

This can happen in our lives. How many times do we have to abandon projects and dreams. With difficulty we succeed. But if we leave all the projects and enter God's dream, we will not lose anything but we will have everything a hundredfold.

We ask the Lord to bring our lives into His Dream, to all become little Joseph and Mary, and with the grace we have received, give the world the salvation of God.

Amen.

Santa Maria Novella in Florence, 18 December 2022

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WITH THE FIGURE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WE REDISCOVER HUMILITY IN THE PRECIOUS DESERT OF ADVENT

The Forerunner, the Baptist, he is the one who speaks in the desert. Wear very sparse clothing, it fed on plants and locusts. This is the typical condition of someone who is in a purification phase of their life.

 

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Dear friends and readers of The Island of Patmos,

anyone who has played a sport, for example football, swimming, horse riding…reminds you of an instructor, an educator, or someone who coached and accompanied him until he became a good footballer, swimmer or jockey …

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In today's Gospel the figure of John the Baptist enters the scene. He who acts as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments and who is similar to the coach we met on the football pitch, in the swimming pool or at the riding stables, prepares us for the way. In this case the way of God. He is introduced to us immediately at the beginning of the pericope:

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«In those days John the Baptist appeared to preach in the Judean desert, saying: «Be converted, because the kingdom of heaven is near!». He is the one who was announced by the prophet Isaiah when he said: The voice of one crying in the wilderness:/ Prepare the way of the Lord, / his paths straight!».

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The Baptist tells us many things, including that the ancient Jewish pact will be modified for an epochal and definitive change. Who, Matthew himself, reports the words of the Baptist who announces a conversion for the coming of the kingdom of heaven, which is close. What does he mean by kingdom of heaven? There is no doubt that for us and the time in which we live the Baptist announces the presence of God and the coming of Christ in history. But before this there is an important detail: the same Isaiah quoted in the Gospel text announces the arrival of an announcer, of a precursor in the desert who will accompany the awareness of the coming of God into our lives. Here then is that Jesus is announced in the desert by someone who prepares his way so that all members of the people can welcome him.

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There is a big announcement for us too of the community of believers. Here Battista is in the person of the church, we theologians will say it represents the whole Church that, despite his defections and ours, that we compose it and that we are all sinners born with original sin, she is the one who helps us get to Jesus. God through the whole Church helps us to straighten our crooked paths to get back on the correct path towards God.

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Now the precursor, the Baptist, he is the one who speaks in the desert. He wears very shabby clothing, it fed on plants and locusts. This is the typical condition of someone who is in a purification phase of their life. The Baptist probably lived a form of life similar to that of the Essenes who had their community at Qumran, a Jewish sect, we would say today, strictly observed. He prepares the way in that desert which can be a physical place but also an interior attitude. In the desert you can travel routes in the sand that you didn't know about. All you need is a wise and attentive guide who knows the desert first. Expert as John was for those he wanted to help convert and he did so through the baptism of conversion that he administered. It was certainly not the sacramental baptism that we know today, but a purification rite that took place through the immersion in the waters of the Jordan of those who had decided to confess and recognize their sins. A penitential practice that washed away sins, from faults and imperfections.

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After passing through the desert sand, you really need refreshing water. Even in the life of faith that we live now in this Advent. Let us rediscover what the sacrament of washing and cleansing our soul is for us, that is, confession. In which after having examined the desertifications of all mortal sins, we can receive the outpouring and washing of reconciliation.

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We ask the Lord to rediscover humility as the basis for daily conversion, to travel through our existential deserts and drink from the always thirst-quenching water of God's love.

Amen!

Santa Maria Novella in Florence, 3 December 2022

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AND IF FROM AMERICAN CATASTROPHIST FILMOGRAPHY WE TRY TO REFLECT ON THE TRUE APOCALYPSE OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES?

“The true martyr is the one who has become the instrument of God, who has lost his will in the will of God, and that he no longer desires anything for himself, not even the glory of being a martyr".

 

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Dear readers of The Island of Patmos,

this XXXIII Sunday of Ordinary Time places us before a theme that concerns apocalyptic signs and times. In the current lexicon the term Apocalypse frightens us because it evokes something terrible, it sounds like a word that says we will all die at the end of the world. But if we avoid a little’ the filmic American girls who have played a lot on this term, especially in the period of the end of the first millennium (1997–2000) – to which various films such as contributed Deep Impact, Armageddon etc… – we can finally really understand what this word means, without minimizing its importance, but without even being afraid of scenarios that prophesy great disasters and great tragedies.

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Apocalypse is a Greek word (revelation) composta da from (apo) I cover it (calupto) which we could translate as "revealed". So, the Apocalypse is the definitive revelation. The translation itself should reassure us, as it does not mean anything that evokes death, pain and destruction. From this we understand one important thing: Jesus in today's song came to offer a ultimate revelation and decisive for all those who will be his witnesses. Jesus therefore describes the path that every disciple and apostle is called to take until completion. Until we land in Paradise. To this end, it draws inspiration from an everyday circumstance:

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“While some spoke of the temple and the beautiful stones and votive offerings that adorned it, he said: “There will come days when, of all that you admire, there will not be stone upon stone that will not be destroyed".

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The announcement of the end of the Temple and beautiful stones is really fortissimo for the listener. In fact, Jesus has before him the splendid Temple begun by King Herod ten years ago, which employed a hundred thousand workmen and a thousand priests who were specially trained as masons. The Temple factory was started in 20 a.C. and continued for a very long time due to the numerous decorations. It will be finished with white stones of white limestone only in the 64 after Christ, and was destroyed in 70 by the emperor Titus Vespasian during the first Jewish war and was only functional for six years. So Jesus, at this time, he is describing a Temple filled with votive gifts to God. That "stone upon stone will not remain" has a value that goes beyond the destruction of the monumental work that stands before the interlocutors.

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This destruction heralds a great event: the first Temple to be destroyed will be the body of Christ, in the days of his passion. That apocalyptic event will truly reveal God's love for his neighbor. The stones of the Temple, which were also a place of encounter with God, they will be reduced with respect to the post-Easter meeting place, which will be Christ himself. To this destruction of the Temple, each of us who are disciples and followers of Jesus is called to this offering of self in our daily crosses. This is what the Apocalypse of his witnesses is, that is, the most important revelation that Jesus offers us today:

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“You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head perish. By your perseverance you will save your souls".

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Jesus foretells us that his following will bring us antipathy and hatred. But at the same time it reassures us that we need not fear anything. Indeed, our testimony as true believers generates confusion and opposition from all those who do not recognize the truth. It shakes their conscience together with those who do not want to leave their comfort zone to the point of doing everything to silence us. We will therefore be those who are the apocalyptics, the revealers of a greater truth. The Lord asks us to persevere despite the difficulties and contrasts of the world, because this testimony of truth up to white martyrdom, it will save ourselves first. Here, then, is the central nucleus of today's teaching, avoiding catastrophic rereadings.

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About white martyrdom and testimony of following Christ, scrive Thomas Sterne Elliott:

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“The true martyr is the one who has become the instrument of God, who has lost his will in the will of God, and that he no longer desires anything for himself, not even the glory of being a martyr".

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We ask the Lord to become authentic witnesses of his love, become instruments of the Trinity, to testify to the whole world that the end is the true beginning of every man, but that that end must be reached after a life of love and dedication to God and neighbor.

Amen.

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Santa Maria Novella in Florence, 12 November 2022

 

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Staff Blog

Father Gabriele

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Visit the pages of our book shop WHO and support our editions by purchasing and distributing our books.

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News from the Dominican Province Roman: visit the official website of the Dominicans, WHO

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THE MITE IS NOT A SHEEP BUT A LION, AN EAGLE THAT HAS RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE FORTRESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

When we live the beatitudes we enter into the mastery of Jesus: we are men and women made in the image of the Son. Small Trinitarian images. This is the theological-anthropological nuance of the beatitudes. At the same time it makes us see the goal that all the children of God, we believers take it together as a community and as a Church.

 

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A few years ago a beautiful film came out with the late Sean Connery: Discovering Forrester. It's the story of Jamal Wallace, a young black boy from the Bronx who befriends an elderly writer, William Forrester, who will be able to give many important lessons to Jamal, because he will be able to grasp gifts and potential in the boy. Jamal credits Forrester with a certain mastery. And also the great gift of knowing how to make the most of his abilities.

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This story helps us introduce the Today's Holy Gospel in which Jesus, divine teacher, teaching the beatitudes, it allows us to become saints in a personal way and at the same time in a community way. In the Gospel passage, Jesus decides to climb a mountain. Exactly as Moses did when giving his great five speeches. He sits down and takes a master's position:

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«Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain: He sat down and his disciples came to him. He started talking and taught them.".

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Being seated on the mountain has an important meaning in the imagination of those who saw and observed this scene. Going up and sitting on the mountain is a sort of plastic representation of going up and sitting in the chair, in an important and solemn way, during which Jesus exposes the Great Charter of his teaching: the Beatitudes.

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The manifesto of the life of every disciple, believer and apostle of Jesus, we live in the practice of virtue which then has the beatitudes as its goal. On one side, so, the introduction of the first verse is clear and important. Jesus sits down - from the throne, we would say today -, he takes the floor and teaches them by teaching. It makes the crowds participate in divine knowledge and explains the criteria on which God himself judges and acts. The Beatitudes are in fact God's gift to man and to the Church.

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When we experience the beatitudes we enter into the mastery of Jesus: we are men and women made in the image of the Son. Small Trinitarian images. This is the theological-anthropological nuance of the beatitudes. At the same time it makes us see the goal that all the children of God, we believers take it together as a community and as a Church. Let us live the virtues and beatitudes as brothers. This is at the same time the theological-ecclesial nuance. Therefore Jesus lays out the plan for man and for the Church: the Great Charter of the beatitudes through which we can all become saints.

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The beatitudes they tell something of a journey towards a path of perfection where we will all shine and be an image of God for other men. But let's try to comment on just one of the beatitudes, which I think is more to be rediscovered in this time: "Beati and miti, because they will inherit the earth". Obviously, the “myth”, it's not there rockstar, the footballer, the actor … not even a heroic and epic narrative. Here Jesus means the meek as one who does not behave in an annoying way, that does not attack, who knows how to love without invading freedom and taking the gifts of others, but above all without envying the gifts of others, giving substance to that terrible sin which is envy of the grace of others. The meek is the one who lives the virtue of fortitude and remains calm in distressing situations. Or to clarify: the meek is not a sheep but a lion, an eagle that has received the gift of the fortitude of the Holy Spirit which strengthens steadfastness of mind. Thus the myths, in their fortress, they will inherit the earth. Because the earth is the vital sign. It is the place where the Spirit penetrates to make the harvest fruitful. Therefore, inheriting the earth means having a soul capable of welcoming the Holy Spirit and doing great works of love and tenderness towards others..

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In this time of great tensions and polarizations of ideas and opinions, where it is very easy to get into verbal confrontation, especially on social media which are swarming with anonymous keyboard lions, but also in real life, we ask the Lord precisely this: to rediscover meekness. Or as Chilo wrote, one of the seven Spartan sages:

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«If I know strong, be gentle and peaceful, so that those around you have respect for you rather than fear".

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We ask the Lord the grace of living the beatitudes in a time of great uncertainty, showing us rooted in His Love and becoming saints of our time, that is, small stars in the dark sky of our time, just as one of our greatest Italian poets wrote, Dante, Canto XXXIII in Paradise: «The love that moves the sun and the other stars».

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Santa Maria Novella in Florence, 1November 2022

on the Solemnity of All Saints

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NOTE

Song movie An American in Rome to the new film A Roman in Florence — Father Gabriele was transferred from the Roman Convent of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva to the Florentine Convent of Santa Maria Novella, where our readers who live in those areas of Tuscany can find it.

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Staff Blog

Father Gabriele

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Visit the pages of our book shop WHO and support our editions by purchasing and distributing our books.

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News from the Dominican Province Roman: visit the official website of the Dominicans, WHO

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______________________

Dear Readers,
this magazine requires management costs that we have always faced only with your free offers. Those who wish to support our apostolic work can send us their contribution through the convenient and safe way PayPal by clicking below:

Or if you prefer you can use our
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The Fathers of the Island of Patmos

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FROM FINANCIAL WOLVES TO ACCUMULATORS AND RICH IN GRACE: «POVERTY IS LACKING MANY THINGS, TO THE GREED EVERYONE»

 

“But God said to the rich farmer: "Fool, this very night your life will be demanded of you. And what you have prepared, whose it will be?”. So it is with those who accumulate treasures for themselves and are not enriched with God".

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Dear readers of The island of Patmos,

In Gospel of this XVIII Sunday Ordinary Time, Jesus condemns greed or avarice, hence the immoderate accumulation of goods. A theme that may seem far from us small and medium-sized workers. Accumulation is not just about goods and treasures related to money or property. This was Jordan Belfort's experience, broker and financial entrepreneur, whose story was also told in the film 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street. At the beginning of his career he began with fraudulent investments and earnings, with an increasingly messy and flawed attachment to money. This will lead him to completely destroy his life by reducing him to drug addiction and the destruction of his friends and loved ones, up to prison.

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Today Jesus wants to offer us this teaching, he clearly says it in this pericope:

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“Be careful and keep away from all covetousness because, even if one is in abundance, his life does not depend on what he possesses".

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The life of each of us does not depend on good money. But it depends on the primary and essential good which is God. It is He who, if we trust, he gives us all the other goods and the means to reach the ultimate goal: Holiness and the eternal encounter with Him in Paradise. To clarify this, the Lord tells the parable of the rich man and his countryside. Here it calls again to the real dependence we have on God, that decides our life and our death. But even more: in this parable Jesus says a much stronger phrase, taking up the ending of his narration:

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“But God said to the rich farmer: "Fool, this very night your life will be demanded of you. And what you have prepared, whose it will be?”. So it is with those who accumulate treasures for themselves and are not enriched with God".

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True wealth to which we are all called is then the wealth in God. A wealth that does not accumulate by shopping on Amazon, playing on the stock market, or buying real estate. It is the wealth of those who truly have and are filled with the presence and grace of God.

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Jesus does not ask us to live as miserable, like poor people looking for a pauperistic form in which misery is our aim. He asks us to relocate all goods to obtain the richness of the Presence of God, which today you can get as a free gift, especially in the Sacraments and the Eucharist. A spiritual wealth that is obtained by free gift, when we grow in prayer and meditation: this is the treasure of the doctrine taught by Jesus which leads our every life. Got all this then, the Lord will not let us lack other material goods as well.

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The Roman author Pubblio Sirio wrote, in its Judgments: “Poverty is lacking many things, to avarice all".

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We ask the Lord to heal from the morbid attachment to all material and ephemeral realities, to learn to draw from the Trinitarian treasures of eternal life.

Amen.

Rome, 31 July 2022

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Staff Blog

Father Gabriele

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Visit the pages of our book shop WHO and support our editions by purchasing and distributing our books.

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News from the Dominican Province Roman: visit the official website of the Dominicans, WHO

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______________________

Dear Readers,
this magazine requires management costs that we have always faced only with your free offers. Those who wish to support our apostolic work can send us their contribution through the convenient and safe way PayPal by clicking below:

Or if you prefer you can use our
Bank account in the name of:
Editions The island of Patmos

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If you make a bank transfer, send an email to the editorial staff, the bank does not provide your email and we will not be able to send you a thank you message:
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We thank you for the support you wish to offer to our apostolic service.

The Fathers of the Island of Patmos

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