Solemnity of All Saints

The Scripture readings for this Sunday, November 1, 2009 are:
          Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
          Psalm 24: 1-6
          1 John 3: 1-3
          Matthew 5: 1-12a

The topic for this week's catechetical session is the "Communion of Saints".

• Thinking of people who have influenced your life, those you see as people of faith, what qualities of their lives do you admire?
• What challenges to holiness are found in today's readings?
• As you pray, ask for the grace to live the Beatitudes more fully.

Today in Scripture

Luke 13:18-21
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” 
          
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of 
wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

A friend recently posted on her Facebook page notice of the successful completion of her first Triathlon. As someone who is not nearly as athletic and active as I used to be, the concept of long distance swimming, cycling and running seems utterly incomprehensible, even super-human. And yet I know that she, like so many others, started out with small goals, gradually increasing distance and stamina over time.

In today's Gospel, Jesus is telling us something similar about the Kingdom of God. Jesus never really defined just what the "Kindgom of God" IS, but by his actions and ministry, he gave us a good inkling of what components to expect: healing, forgiveness, wholeness, liberation from all that binds us, salvation. And he spoke of the Kingdom of God as a reality that was both being brought about in the present, and something to anticipate in the future. "While the future coming of the reign of God means a profound transformation of all human reality and is a transcendent experience beyond space and time, the inbreaking of that transcendent reality through the mission of Jesus enables people to respond to God's offer of salvation and to be affected by it now, within history." (The New Dictionary of Theology, 1990, The Liturgical Press, Inc)

The "Kingdom of God" may as well be a triathlon for all I can do to bring it about, right? Well in one respect, yes- it can only truly and fully be brought about through God's grace and saving actions. Then again, Jesus gives us these parables. In them, small and seemingly insignificant things quietly play their role, resulting in a new and greater creation. And that  new creation, new reality exists for the benefit of all (the 'birds of the air', not just your prized pet parrot!).

• Can you identify a past moment of grace that has affected you, growing with time like the yeast and resulting in abundant blessings?
• What's your mustard seed? How can you bring about healing, forgiveness, or loving kindness in your particular 'garden'?

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Scripture readings for this Sunday, October 25, 2009 are:
          Jeremiah 31: 7-9
          Psalm 126: 1-6
          Hebrews 5: 1-6
          Mark 10: 46-52

The topics for this week's catechetical session are "Holy Orders, and the Common Priesthood of the Faithful".

• What 'great things' has God done for you?
• At this point in your life, how would you answer Jesus' question to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?"
• As a way of sharing in the ministry of Jesus Christ, how might you put your faith into action this week?
  

Today in Scripture

Luke 1: 69-75  
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
     He has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
      Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
     This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

When is a psalm not a psalm? When it is a song, or canticle, from the New Testament, rather from the Book of Psalms (songs) in the Hebrew Scriptures (aka Old Testament). This "Canticle of Zechariah" is sometimes called the Benedictus from the Latin for "Blessed be..." the first words of this song of praise late in the first chapter of Luke's Gospel. The Benedictus is sung or spoken around the world every day during Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Even earlier in that same chapter of Luke we find the "Canticle of Mary", or the Magnificat (yes, Latin for the first words in which Mary gives glory to, or magnifies, God's greatness). The Maginificat is sung or spoken daily during Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours.

In both canticles, individuals are responding to God's limitless ability to bring forth life, even in highly improbable situations. After all, Mary was a virgin, and her cousin Elizabeth (Zechariah's wife) was past child-bearing years. When we experience God's ability to breathe new life in otherwise barren situations, literally or figuratively, what response can we give but joyful praise?

This Canticle of Zechariah is used as the psalm in today's readings, following right after a reading from the Letter to the Romans about how through the gift of faith Abraham and Sarah, well into their 90's, became the ancestors in faith to us all. (Actually, Paul leaves out the best part of Abraham and Sarah's reaction to the news of their impending parenthood... go on, read through chapters 17 and 18 of Genesis - they laughed at the absurdity of it all!)

Blessed be the God of Israel, who comes to set us free....

• From what barreness in your life has God freed you?
• What in your life still feels barren, or restricting, or causes you fear?
• What makes you want to sing for joy?

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Scripture readings for this Sunday, October 18, 2009 are:
          Isaiah  53:10-11
          Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-20, 22
          Hebrews 4: 14-16
          Mark 10: 35-45

The topic for this week's catechetical session is "Redemption by Christ's Suffering".

• In the second reading (from Hebrews), what purpose is given for Jesus' suffering?
• Reflecting on the Gospel, in what ways are you a 'servant'?
  

Doctor, doctor!

October 15 is the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582). She was a Carmelite nun, reformer and founder of convents and monasteries, author of classic spiritual works and in 1970, was the first woman granted the title of "Doctor of the Church".

     A quote attributed to St. Teresa...

           "From silly devotions

            and from sour-faced saints,

            good Lord, deliver us."

St. Damien of Molokai

Born in Belgium and a missionary in Hawaii long before its statehood, Damien de Veuster was also canonized on October 11. Volunteering to live with and minister to those affected by leprosy (Hansen's disease), he eventually died of the disease as well.

During a recent pilgrimage to St. Damien's tomb in Louvain, Belgium, Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva shared this reflection:

"We all have our Kalaupapas.... We can be critical of those people who chose to isolate people in Kalaupapa. But we have our little ways of isolating. It doesn't take oceans or sea cliffs to isolate people. ... We pass by our brothers and sisters each day and say, 'It's not my problem. It's not my business. I don't have time.' So we don't bother tending to their needs."

Another Reflection about St. Damien.

St. Damien of Molokai, pray for us!

Saint Jeanne Jugan

Yesterday in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI canonized (formally declared the sainthood of) five people, including one woman. Jeanne Jugan was born in France in 1792 and founded the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Growing up in difficult circumstances, Jeanne was always attracted to serving the poor, but it wasn't until she was 47 that her mission in life became clear. She carried an elderly, blind, sick woman in from the cold and gave up her own bed to take care of her. A few friends, and more elderly poor people came, and three years later the association of the "Servants of the Poor" was formed.  In order to support this growing ministry, Jeanne (now known as Sr. Mary of the Cross) took to regular begging, viewing the activity as a way to help the rich find solidarity with those in very different circumstances. (One wonders if she might become the patron saint of development directors!!)

The last 27 years of her life were lived in near-obscurity in the Motherhouse, after a local priest took credit for founding the order and forced her out of any leadership role. She never fought back to get the proper credit. She kept focused on what she termed the really important things: serving God by making the poor and elderly happy. Isn't this a bit astonishing? She passed up numerous opportunities to tell her side of the story, so as not to be a cause of division in the young order (now called the "Little Sisters of the Poor"). And yet, by the way she lived her life, she positively influenced the young novices more directly than she would have as the Superior of the Order.

Perhaps this quote sheds some light on her heroic patience and humility:
“Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Go and find him when your strength and patience are giving out, when you feel lonely and helpless. Say to him: ‘You know well what is happening, my dear Jesus. I have only you. Come to my aid ...’ And then go your way. And don’t worry about knowing how you are going to manage. It is enough to have told our good Lord. He has an excellent memory.”

St. Jeanne Jugan, pray for us!

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Scripture readings for this weekend, Sunday October 11, 2009 are:
          Wisdom 7:7-11
           Psalm 90: 12-17
           Hebrews 4: 12-13
          Mark 10: 17-30

The topic for the catechetical and mystagogy sessions is "The Word of God / Revelation".

• How has the Word of God challenged and renewed you?
• What does Jesus' invitation to 'follow me' mean for your life?

And a reminder to Inquirers - our next gathering is this Tuesday, October 13. We'll be starting out in the Living Room and taking a church tour before the night is through!

Upcoming Opportunity

Here's something that looks interesting....

Justin Catanoso is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated business journalist, a university lecturer, and the author of the unique and compelling new book My Cousin the Saint: A Search for Faith, Family, and Miracles. In commemoration of All Saints Day, Justin is coming to St. Thomas More Church, 940 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill, to speak about his sainted cousin on Sunday November 1st, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Church. My Cousin the Saint charts the parallel history of two relatives – Catanoso’s grandfather, Carmelo Catanoso, and his sainted cousin, Padre Gaetano Catanoso (Padre Gaetano Catanoso died in 1957 and was canonized in 2005). Catanoso confronts his own tenuous spiritual moorings in the process, and chronicles his lapsed faith, and his struggle to reclaim it. For more information, see http://church.st-thomasmore.org/speakers

Today in Scripture

Luke 10:38-42:
Jesus entered a village where a woman 
whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet 
listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself 
to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” 

For such a brief and simple story, interpretations about its meaning vary as widely as the interests of the interpreters! What was Jesus saying, really? Is he showing a preference for the contemplative life over the active one? Alluding to justification by faith rather than works? Overturning the role of woman as servant in favor of woman as disciple? Or just trying to quiet some sibling rivalry?

This scripture passage immediately follows the parable of the Good Samaritan, an example Jesus presents of an individual recognizing a need, being 'moved with compassion' and going out of his way to 'love [his] neighbor as [him]self' through concrete and generous action. So, why pick on Martha?

Now, there's no way to know Martha's motivations, but one might just wonder if this was a case of just going through the motions of hospitality without her heart being in it. Was she truly making Jesus feel welcome, or bustling about with loud sighs and clattering of dishes?  And what about Mary? Was she just trying to get out of kitchen duty, or did she recognize Jesus' need to have someone really listen to him, right then and there?

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus is inviting us to consider the potential for holiness in all we do, whether spending time in prayer or up to our elbows in dirty dishes.  And inviting us to serve God by recognizing in every person God's 'image and likeness' and responding in loving attentiveness rather than harried obligation.

• Who in your life (workplace, neighborhood, family) is in need of your loving attention?

Sacramentality

Sacramentality is a basic Catholic principle that all of creation is a potential means of recognizing or experiencing the goodness, presence and love of God for us. It is NOT asserting that created reality IS God (Pantheism), because we believe that God , who has always existed (and was not created), created everything out of nothing.

"Because creation comes forth from God's goodness, it shares in that goodness - 'And God saw that it was good ... very good' (Gn 1: 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 31) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 299) - so in a real sense, God's creation is a tangible way for us to recognize, encounter and reflect on the basic holiness of all that God has given us.

In other words.... here's a song on YouTube to enjoy:
Holy Now by Peter Mayer

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

While we will be using the readings for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi at all the masses this Sunday, our RCIA catechetical session will still be based mainly on the lectionary readings for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. They are:

Genesis 2: 18-24

Psalm 128 : 1-6

Hebrews 2: 9-11

Mark 10: 2-16

The topics for this week's session will be Marriage, Divorce and Annulment.
Thoughts for reflection:

• In what ways does God's love "grace" your marriage and/or friendships?
• What gifts do you bring to your relationships?