Second Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 24, 2013:
Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
Psalm 27: 1, 7-9, 13-14
Philemon 3: 17- 4: 1
Luke 9: 28b-36

The Genesis reading and the Gospel share what might be called 'close encounters of the divine kind'. In both, human beings 'wake up' to discover a brilliant presence.

In Genesis, God symbolically shared a meal with Abram by passing between the offered animals, and in that way establishing a relational covenant. In Luke, Jesus, the Son of God, shares conversation with Moses and Elijah who represent the strong tradition of the Law and the Prophets. The apostles awakened to this recognition of Jesus as the fulfillment of both.

Both scriptures speak of the transformative nature of prayer... how conversing with and listening to God lead us to deeper faith, enlighten us with a clearer perspective, and give us the courage to set out on new pathways. The transfigured Jesus, shining with light and in brilliantly white clothes, is effectively an image for us through our baptism.

Let this week be a time of prayer and reflection on your 'close encounters' with God.

The Penitential Rite for Lisa and Kevin, our Candidates for Full Communion, will be at the 11:30am Mass.

First Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the First Sunday in Lent, February 17, 2013:
Deuteronomy 26: 4-10
Psalm 91: 1-2, 10-15
Romans 10: 8-13
Luke 4: 1-13

What's your story? Moses reminded the people how God was always with them by recounting their history, all the way back to Abraham.

What does your story say about you? Paul reminds the Romans of the power of God's word-- our story of faith seen in the light of the Mystery of God-- to make us who were are, to redeem us and help us live in right relationship with this God who doesn't keep secrets. Our stories are part of the story of Scripture, and the Word of God shapes, received in faith, shapes who we are and how we live.

How do you make sense of your story? Jesus and the devil have very different perspectives on what it means to be the Messiah, the Son of God. By what standards do you interpret your life story; how are you guided in making choices and plans?

We begin this season of Lent, intentionally connecting God's workings and stirrings in our own lives with the deep and timeless truth of Scripture. May our prayer this week echo the prayer of Psalm 91: “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

The combined Rite of Sending will be at the 5:30pm Mass this Saturday, and we will be going to the Rite of Election at 4pm at St Thomas More in Chapel Hill. Those who wish to carpool, please leave from St. Andrew's by 2:45pm.  There is no catechetical session this Sunday.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 10, 2013:
Isaiah 6: 1-2a, 3-8
Psalm 138: 1-5, 7-8
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Luke 5: 1-11

I'm not making this up! That might be a glib summary of Paul's words to the Corinthians. He is emphasizing that the message that he gave them about Jesus didn't come from his own imagination or creative thinking, but was revealed to him by Christ, and is the same message that a solid reading of Scripture, or a good talk with the original apostles and disciples would provide. That's a long way around of defining 'Tradition'. We hand on what we have received... from God's mouth to our hearts, from generation to generation.  The message remains true, protected from the vagaries that come from that children's game of 'telephone' (where the original message becomes something entirely different by the end of the line!) by the guiding presence of God's Holy Spirit in our Church.

Isaiah in the first reading and Simon Peter in the Gospel are both doubtful of their worthiness. In comparison to the grandeur of The Lord, in the face of the power over nature displayed by Jesus, who could measure up? Well, we can't. But the Good News is- it's not a competition! God wins; and when God wins, everybody wins! God calls us into partnership in the mission of loving service and sacrifice. God invites us into the very life of the Trinity... empowered by the Spirit to praise God by and through our lives.

• Who first taught you about God?
• What do you think is the difference between "Tradition" and "traditions"?
• How do you think God is calling you into mission?

The Mystagogia group meets this Sunday at 10:45am in Room 212.
The topic for the Catechumenate is Tradition and traditions.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 3, 2013:
Jeremiah 1: 4-5-6, 17-19
Psalm 71: 1-6, 15-17
1 Corinthians 12: 31- 13: 13
Luke 4: 21-30

The psalmist implores God:

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians muses about having faith strong enough to

move mountains.

And Jesus narrowly escapes being hurled down the hill of his own hometown by his fellow Jews!

So, what do these varied images of geological formations have to tell us about anything? And how is it that we read again and again of rocks and stones in our Scripture?

• The house built on a solid foundation (Mt 7:21, Lk 6:46)
• The Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5)
• The seed on rocky ground.. ( Lk 8: 6)
• Let the one without sin cast the first stone... (Jn 8: 7)
• The stone across the tomb (Mk 15: 46)

The stone, the rock, the mountain can be a weapon, place of danger or symbol of being 'set in stone' (hard-hearted', immovable).  They can also speak to us of protection, surety, a new vantage point, a safe refuge.

In the Gospel, Jesus used the firm foundation of the prophet Isaiah to define his 'mission statement', and his neighbors in the synagogue were just as firm in their expectations for him to stay in place (the carpenter's son becomes a carpenter- what's wrong with him?!).  That's a challenge many of us face as well-- the pressure to fulfill the expectations of others, whether or not that means being true to ourselves. And yet God's Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the gifts that provide refuge and strength to carry out our mission - the mission of all baptized in Christ: to love and serve as Jesus did.

The topic for the Catechumenate session this Sunday is the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 27, 2013:

Nehemiah 8: 2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19: 8-10, 15
1 Corinthians 12: 12-30
Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21

Most excellent Theophilus

In the very first verses of Luke's Gospel, the evangelist is stating his case, the reason and the audience for his relaying of the Good News. And do you know who Theophilus is? In all probability, you! The name literally means "friend of God".

• What does it mean to be a friend of God?
• What do these Scripture readings tell us about how God treats God's friends?
• What do they tell us about the choices we make if we are friends of God?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Sacraments of Healing.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 20, 2013:

Isaiah 62: 1-5
Psalm 96: 1-3, 7-10
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11
John 2: 1-11

Doesn't it seem a little funny that the first recorded public miracle of Jesus was about keeping a party going?  Not giving sight to the blind, not exorcising demons, but playing the Divine Vintner?! There's so much to like about this story, so much that reminds us that Jesus was indeed, truly and fully human (while also being truly and fully Divine, of course).  Jesus' reply to his mother's request sounds just like an embarrassed young man trying not to be seen as a 'momma's boy', or simply someone trying to mind his own business. And yet he relents: who would want the bride and groom to be embarrassed as the wine runs out (wedding feasts would last for days, and involve most if not all of the villagers... who would certainly be spending the next days or weeks reviewing the spread)?

 This first miracle not only demonstrates his power, and his mother's intercessory power, but also that he CARES about all sorts of things that concern us. God CARES for us- enough to become one of us. And God CARES about us, because in Jesus God experienced our concerns and hopes, our despair and joys.

This Gospel passage is often used in connection with the Sacrament of Marriage - called a sacrament because we believe in some real way that the marital relationship is a visible representation of the reality of God's love, fidelity, and creative power.

January 18-25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. At St. Andrew's this Friday evening, January 18, we will have a 7pm ecumenical service of scripture and song with several other local Christian congregations, during which we will celebrate 30 years of working together to feed the hungry through Western Wake Crisis Ministry.  Please come if you are able! The topic for the Catechumenate on Sunday will be ecumenism.

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 6, 2013:

Isaiah 60: 1-6
Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2: 1-12

This is a feast of expansion, of inclusion and widening of boundaries. God can't and won't be contained! 
This is good news, and yet also challenging news. It challenges us when we want to feel secure that we know all the definitions, that every question has a black and white answer, and that we are members of THE exclusive inner circle- and that everyone else must have it all wrong. It challenges us when we want to set the limits about who God might love and who God might save. It challenges us to be honest about whether we prefer to be made in the image of God, or want to make God in our own image.  What can we learn from the Magi?

Some reflection questions from "For the Ride Home":
•Were the Magi following the star or following their hearts to find the Christ child?
•When the Magi found the newborn child in the arms of its mother what did they do? Why?
•What do you encounter in the everyday world that is ordinary yet profound?
•How do you connect heart and mind in your search to find Jesus in your everyday encounters?

The topic for the Catechumenate Session this Sunday is Images of God .