Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 27, 2011:
Sirach 15: 15-20
Psalm 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
Matthew 5:17-37

• What keeps you from fully trusting God?
• What keeps you from fully believing in God's care for and love of you?
• What are images of God that you are most comfortable with?

The Catechumenate topic this Sunday will be "Images of God"
The rescheduled Mystagogia session will begin at 11am at the Macdonald's home.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 13, 2011:
Sirach 15: 15-20
Psalm 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
Matthew 5:17-37

The Gospel this week continues the 'Sermon on the Mount' discourse from the previous two weeks (Beatitudes, Salt and Light), and it could be viewed as practical applications of the beatitudes. Situated on a high place, like Moses delivering the 10 Commandments received from God, Jesus is positioned firmly in line with the lawgivers and prophets of Judaism. Yet he isn't simply repeating the well-known laws and rules, but challenging his disciples -and us- to a deeper way of living. "I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors... but I say to you..."

In essence, Jesus asks us to examine what's in our hearts. Sure, you might be obeying a law, fulfilling an obligation, but if your heart's not in it.... what's the use?

• Look back at the Beatitudes (4th Sunday of Ordinary Time) and read through today's Gospel again... what connections can you make between them?
• How does the law of love offered by Jesus, transform us and challenge us?

The Adult Catechumenate is not meeting this Sunday (last Sunday off until Pentecost!!!).

St. Josephine Bakhita

Today is the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a woman born in the 19th century in southern Sudan.  As her life is described here, she was a slave beginning at age 7, eventually accompanying her owner's daughter to Venice where she learned about and was attracted to Catholicism. Baptized at age 22, she eventually gained her freedom and became a religious sister.  

In the homily at her canonization mass, Pope John Paul II, spoke of the inspiration of her life:

"We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights."
                                       

St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us!

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 6, 2011:
Isaiah 58: 7-10
Psalm 112: 4-9
1 Corinthians 2: 1-5
Matthew 5: 13-16

• What do the images in today's readings say to you about living as a Christian?
• In the first reading from Isaiah, concrete examples of light-giving actions are presented... which come easily to you, which are challenges?

The topic for this week's Catechumenate Session is Eucharist Leads to Mission .