Fourth Sunday of Advent

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 23, 2012:

Micah 5: 1-4a
Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10: 5-10
Luke 1: 39-45

It is so easy for this final Sunday of Advent to get lost... the 4th week doesn't even get two full days this year until Christmas evening ushers in the Christmas Season! But just as the first reading addresses a small town and assures it of its importance, every Sunday (truly, every day) is significant as an opportunity to hear God's word and then (like Mary) share that Good News.

• What is the Good News of this year for you?
• How can you be Christ for another person today, in a very tangible way?

The "O" Antiphons

If you know the traditional song "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", you may be familiar with the O Antiphons... a series of ancient names for Jesus, describing his various roles in our salvation story.

Here are the antiphons, one for every day in the week leading up to Christmas, beginning today.

And if you would like to follow a daily reflection on the antiphons, please click on "O Antiphons" in the label list along the right column of this page, or go to December 2009 or 2010 in the blog archive and click for each date.

Third Sunday of Advent

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 16, 2012:

Zephaniah 3: 14-18a
Isaiah 12: 2-6
Philippians 4: 4-7
Luke 3: 10-18

Did you notice? This is the week that the pink candle is lit! The traditional Latin name for this Sunday is "Gaudete", which means "Rejoice!"  The pink is a visual boost in the midst of our season of preparation, a reassurance that the feast Christmas is nearing.

To help prepare for the readings this weekend, I invite you to read this brief blog post:
Rejoice – Even when Suffering? Third Sunday of Advent

• Where do you find hope?
• What makes you rejoice?
• How do you bring joy to others?

Our topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Incarnation.

Second Sunday of Advent

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday in Advent, December 9, 2012:

Baruch 5: 1-9
Psalm 126: 1-6
Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11
Luke 3: 1-6

All those hard-to-pronounce names at the beginning of the Gospel-- why are they included?
For one thing, this is Luke's way of letting us know that this story isn't "Once upon a time...." but  rather, "In THIS particular place, at THIS specific time... THIS is what happened!" And then we proceed to learn about John the Baptist's ministry and message.

We live in a particular place and specific time, so it only seems appropriate to take some time this week to ask ourselves how we might best prepare for the coming of our Savior? What needs to change (what mountainous barriers leveled, what potholes filled in?) so that our repentance can be true, our conversion to living like and for Jesus Christ complete?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Mary.

First Sunday of Advent - Year C

Here are the readings for the First Sunday in Advent, December 2, 2012:

Jeremiah 33: 14-16
Psalm 25: 4-5, 8-10, 14
1 Thessalonians 3: 12- 4: 2
Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

Happy New Year!

With this Sunday, we begin a new Liturgical Year... Cycle C of the Scripture Readings (we'll hear mostly from Luke's Gospel this year), and we begin a new season: Advent. If you're not too sure what Advent is all about, please watch the two minute video in the previous post... and have your sound on, for the full effect!

The Gospel, however, seems to continue the theme of the last few weeks- the ones heralding the end of the liturgical year and looking ahead to the end of time. So let's take our cue form the first two readings and the psalm, as a means of preparing for the coming of Jesus- not only in our commemoration of his birth at Christmas, but in his second coming.

• What do these readings tell us abut how to live, so as to prepare for a joyful eternity with God? 
• What do we learn from these readings about the qualities of God, qualities that we- made in God's image and likeness- might take our cues from for our own way of being?

The good news of a new year is the feeling of a fresh start. What are your 'new year's resolutions' for your spiritual life?

The topic for the Catechumenate session is Advent and the Liturgical Year.

Wondering about Advent?

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 18, 2012:

Daniel 12: 1-3
Psalm 16: 5, 8-11
Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18
Mark 13: 24-32

We are coming swiftly to the end of the liturgical (church) year, and the readings certainly reflect an emphasis on the end times! It can be tempting to get focused on, obsessed even, about trying to figure out (or even control!) what all this intimidating and yet poetic language might mean. Some people are quick to identify world events as signs of the end times.

Far from encouraging angst, I suggest that a prayerful reading of these Scriptures provides a reassurance that God is in control, is looking out for us, and has wonderful plans in store for those who believe (and whose beliefs are apparent in their actions).

• Do you think much about the end times?
• In what way does your relationship with God influence your feelings about the end times?

The topic for this Sunday's Catechumenate is The Last Things.
There will be no Catechumenate on November 25 (Thanksgiving weekend).

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 11, 2012:

1 Kings 17: 10-16
Psalm 146: 7-10
Hebrews 9: 24-28
Mark 12: 38-44

This Gospel has often been interpreted as praise of the generosity of a poor woman. It is also possible to understand Jesus' mention of her as a lament: she has given all that she has, but is that really a responsible decision?  One of the greatest challenges for a Christian steward is discerning the appropriate amount and target of one's sacrificial giving, generosity and charity.

Stewardship begins with the fundamental truth that all that we have ultimately comes from God. We are stewards, not owners of our talents, possessions and wealth. In recognition of this reality and out of gratitude, we naturally offer a portion of what is ours, the 'first fruits' (not the leftovers) back in the service of God and others. And yet, our offering must come from focused discernment: at this stage in my life, with my particular commitments of time, energy and money, what is the proper sacrificial offering that will enhance and enrich rather than sow discord and instability? (For instance, we LOVE people volunteering at church, but if you are here 80% of the time and NEVER see your family, how holy and helpful is that?) And if you are generous with your finance (like the widow of the Gospel) to the point of not being able to pay your own mortgage or put food on the table, one might well question if that moves from the realm of trusting reliance on God to foolhardy budgeting.

There's a time to through caution to the wind. See the widow in the first reading. And a time to be prudent and discerning. Both those decisions are best made prayerfully.

The topic for our Catechumenate session this Sunday is Stewardship.
The Mystagogia group meets this Sunday.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 4, 2012:


Deuteronomy 6: 2-6
Psalm 18: 2-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7: 23-28
Mark 12: 28b-34

If I cannot find the face of Jesus in the face of those who are my enemies, if I cannot find him in the unbeautiful, if I cannot find him in those who have the 'wrong ideas', if I cannot find him in the poor and defeated, then I will not find him in the bread or the wine. If I do not reach out in this world to those with whom he has identified himself, why do I imagine that I would want to be with him, and them, in heaven? Why do I think I want to be for all eternity in the company of those whose companionship I avoided every day of my life? - Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement

How does this quote relate to the readings today?
What might it mean in relation to our topic for the Catechumenate, "Saints"?

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 28, 2012:


Jeremiah 31: 7-9
Psalm 126: 1-6
Hebrews 5: 1-6
Mark 10: 46-52

"What do you want me to do for you?"

Doesn't it seem that it would obvious to Jesus that a blind man was standing before him? And yet he asks that question. In this case, the obvious WAS the answer to the question, but sometimes what we want, what we NEED from Jesus is not so clear. Was it the man's physical blindness that needed healing only, or perhaps also the isolation from his community, the inability to meaningfully contribute to society?

"What do you want me to do for you?"
Where do you long for healing in your life?

The topic for this Sunday's Catechumenate session is the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 21, 2012:

Isaiah 53: 10-11

Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

Hebrews 4: 14-16
Mark 10: 35-45

Again and again over this past month, Jesus is trying to teach his followers that true leadership, true discipleship, comes through humble, simple service. And as James and John demonstrate in this Gospel, that's a hard message to truly learn!  While it may be simpler to believe in a God who will swoop in and fix everything (as we define 'fix", of course), the truth is that our God loves us so deeply as to absorb all of our hurts and challenges; transforming them, in God's time, through the power of his cross and resurrection.
The mystery of the humility of the One who has no reason to be humble leads us to evaluate how well we serve this God through our service of one another.

RCIA participants will be attending the Catholic Convocation this Saturday; there is no RCIA session this Sunday.

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 14, 2012:

Wisdom 7: 7-11

Psalm 90: 12-17

Hebrews 4: 12-13
Mark 10: 17-30

Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
-Hebrews 4: 12

 In other words, God's word challenges us to get our priorities in order! In the Gospels, what is expected is often turned upside down and inside out. For Jews of that time, prosperity was seen as evidence of God's blessing and favor (sounds like today's 'prosperity Gospel' doesn't it?), while Jesus consistently warns against letting wealth be your goal or motivation in life.  Many of us (unfortunately!) don't have that particular 'problem', but what in your lifestyle IS challenged by the word of God?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Scripture.

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 7, 2012:

Genesis 2: 18-24

Psalm 128: 1-6

Hebrews 2: 9-11
Mark 10: 2-16

The readings today speak of relationships:

• Our connectedness with all of creation. 
• Jesus becoming one with us, regarding us as brothers and sisters. 
• How a marriage relationship is a visible expression of the fidelity and everlasting love of God.
• How every person, no matter how young, poor, or otherwise usually ignored, is worthy of respect and is beloved by God.

In what ways do you recognize the grace of God present in our world: in nature, family, strangers?

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

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time,

September 30, 2012:

Numbers 11: 25-29

Psalm 19: 8, 10, 12-14

James 5: 1-6
Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48

The second half of today's Gospel is one of those that can leave us scratching our heads. That's a bit harsh, isn't it, Jesus? Jesus, as good teacher and storyteller, was not afraid of hyperbole and exaggeration to get his point across (he did hang out with fishermen, after all!). And what point was his trying to make there? Simply- following him has got to be our focus. And if our actions (hands) or path (foot) or influences (eye) are diverting our whole-hearted loyalty from him, we've got to remove that distraction.

The first part of this Sunday's Gospel pairs well with the first reading, from the Book of Numbers. In both accounts, people without the 'right credentials' are doing God's work, and confounding/annoying those 'in the club' in the process. Both Moses and Jesus remind their followers that it's not about competition, and as remind us that we can't dictate to God who will be called and gifted for service.

• What are your particular gifts?
• Have you ever felt constrained in using them?
• What barriers do we (as a nation, neighborhood, church, coworker, etc) place in others' way that keep them from fully utilizing their gifts?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Conscience Formation.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
September 23, 2012:

Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20

Psalm 54: 3-6, 8

James 3: 16 - 4: 3
Mark 9: 30-37


Jesus can sometimes be soooo confusing!  Can't you imagine the apostles arching an eyebrow at each other at the end of today's Gospel?   In their time and culture, children had no status- they'd be the last ones fed, the last ones thought about, and certainly not indulged as anything special.  So why would Jesus use a child as an example of hospitality? What could a child possibly offer in return? And this whole 'first shall be last' deal? That's not the way to get ahead, Jesus!

How are we to make sense of this wisdom of God, which often seems so at odds with how we just know it all works in the world? What might it look like to be devoted to Jesus with the singleness of purpose of a faithful servant?  Is last week's image of 'losing yourself in Jesus' (like in watching a football game!) helpful at all?

• In what concrete ways do you serve another person, because of your faith?
• When have you recognized another person treated you with more kindness, respect and mercy than you felt you deserved?

The topic for this Sunday's Catechumenate is Works of Mercy.
Congratulations to Bryon and Nina whose infant daughter Lilly will be baptized this Sunday at the 9:30am Mass!

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
September 16, 2012:

Isaiah 50: 5-9a

Psalm 114:1-6, 8-9

James 2: 14-18
Mark 8: 27-35

In his book "Catholic Prayer", Lawrence Cunningham makes the distinction between 'believing that' and 'believing in'. Essentially, he boils it down to this:
You can, for instance, assent to a fact or theory, "I believe that there are 50 states in the United States of America." Nice to know, but does it have much impact on your life?
But when you believe in someone or some thing- well, that has implications, doesn't it? From the trivial trust in the local weather forecaster that guides you to carry an umbrella when rain is predicted, to the life-giving, life-altering belief in God, in whom we live and move and have our being. Believing in entails giving our very hearts to the subject of our trust.

The readings this weekend speak of faith, of walking in the pathways of God, of good words turned to concrete action.

• In whom or what do you believe?
• How would you finish this sentence, "I believe in God, who...."
• How would you finish this followup sentence, "Because of this belief, I ....)

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Faith Professed.

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time,
September 9, 2012:

Isaiah 35: 4-7a

Psalm 146: 7-10

James 2: 1-5
Mark 7: 31-37

• What do Jesus' actions in the Gospel tell you about God? 
• Is God remote and aloof?
• Do our bodies and our challenges matter to God?
• What does that entail for our lives as Christians, followers of Christ?

Mystagogia will meet this Sunday in CARE Room 212 at 10:45am.
The topic for the Cathechumenate this week is Catholic Social Teaching.
The Inquiry session this Tuesday, September 11 will begin with the 7pm prayer service in the Church.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 2, 2012:

Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-8

Psalm 15: 2-5

James 1: 17-18, 21b-22, 27
Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Wow! What a difference in tone! We've been reading from the Gospel of John these past several weeks... John's was the last Gospel written, and the portrait he paints of Jesus highlights his divinity and uses more exalted language and imagery. But now we are back to Mark (the usual evangelist referenced in Year B of the Lectionary) and the earliest, shortest and in some ways, most human portrayal of Jesus.
It is thought that Mark was recording Peter's sermons in Rome (not writing a polished manuscript), and expected Jesus' imminent return... so there was time for diplomacy and niceties-- as you see in this exchange with the Pharisees and Scribes!

But for this weekend, I invite you to spend some time reflecting on the second reading, from the brief letter of James:

Dearest brothers and sisters:
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Comments welcomed.

There is no Catechumenate Session this week.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time,
August 26, 2012:

Joshua 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Psalm 34: 2-3, 16-21

Ephesians 5: 21-32
John 6: 60-69

• What does following Jesus require of you?
• What hard choices might this have caused?
• Where do you struggle with doubts?
  
  The topic for the Catechumenate session this Sunday is Faith.

Real Presence

If you have Facebook, there is a new post here: St. Andrew the Apostle Faith Formation that talks about sharing in the life of Jesus through the Eucharist.

And if you were in the Catechumenate this morning and would like to hear a sample of the song you took home with you, Spirit and Grace, please click the song title.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
August 19, 2012:

Proverbs 9: 1-6

Psalm 34: 2-7

Ephesians 5: 15-20
John 6: 51-58

How is the message in this Gospel the same as the past two weekends?
In what ways does it seem different, for you?

Assumption of Mary

August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation (That means that it's a day that Catholics are expected to celebrate Mass. Every Sunday is a Holy Day, and we have several more scattered throughout the year.).

Masses at St. Andrew are at 6:30 and 9:00 am and 7:30 pm Wednesday.

For a little explanation of this feast, please click here.

And here is a link to the readings for the day.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
August 12, 2012:

1 Kings 19: 4-8

Psalm 34: 2-9

Ephesians 4: 30- 5: 2
John 6: 41-51

 At the end of the Gospel Jesus tells his followers, 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

Which sounds nice and all.  But what we might not understand in reading/hearing those words is what Jesus really meant by them.  His followers did- and they were challenged to their core.  By eating this bread, Jesus tells us to make a part of ourselves his very essence, to take on his own life of service, sacrifice and boundless love.  Yes, even to the people who see the world differently than we do.

When we can recognize the risen Christ living with in us, when we can recognize the presence of Christ in every loved one and stranger and then act accordingly, then true life may be experienced in abundance.

• Jesus sacrifices himself for us. In what ways have you made sacrifices for others?
• For those you love?
• For strangers?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Eucharist as Sacrifice.
Mystagogia meets this Sunday at 10:45am in Room 212.
Inquiry will meet this Tuesday at 7:00pm in Room 8.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
August 5, 2012:

Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15

Psalm 78: 3-4, 23-25, 54

Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
John 6: 24-35

What do you want?
What do you need?
Do those two questions ever get confused in your mind and heart?

Pretend that you are with Moses, wandering around- lost, perhaps?- and just so sure that you're going to starve to death out in the wilderness.  What you'd escaped in Egypt was horrible and yet...
Have you shared those feelings in your own life?  Frustrated by imperfection, worried by uncertainty?
Go back to Moses.... and from nowhere, food is provided for you!  What feelings would that bring up for you? Relief? Gratitude? Wanting more (could you send some butter for the bread, please?!)?

In this Gospel, the people who were just fed (in last week's Gospel about the multiplication of loaves and fish) are still not satisfied. They want more physical demonstrations of power; Jesus wants to talk with them about spiritual nourishment.  What does it mean for you to call Jesus "The Bread of Life"?  Think on that, play with the words, pray with the words.

And we'll check in together next week!

The Catechumenate meets again on August 12, as does the Mystagogia group.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order. Have you noticed that some priests and most sisters have initials after their names? Those designate which order (group) they belong to. For instance, our pastor is Fr. David Fitzgerald, S.A. - which stands for "Society of Atonement" one of the many varieties of Franciscans (who were founded by St. Francis). The Jesuits are "S.J.", which stand for "Society of Jesus".

Would you like to learn more about St. Ignatius? Here's a nine minute video that will help!

 
Who Cares About the Saints?...Ignatius from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

Seventeeth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
July 29, 2012:

2 Kings 4: 42-44

Psalm 145: 1011, 15-18

Ephesians 4: 1-6
John 6: 1-15


The hand of the Lord feeds us; 
                            he answers all our needs.

The psalm response for this weekend sums it up fairly well. In John's Gospel we recall a miraculous feeding of thousands; their physical hunger is more than satisfied. And yet, what drew so many into the countryside? Certainly, a variety of hungers. Some craving proximity to the latest newsmaker (have you heard about all those healings?!), some out of a deep curiosity, some from an insistent longing for meaning. They didn't follow Jesus looking for a meal, and yet that is what they got!

Many scriptures scholars and preachers have pointed out the Eucharistic symbolism in this Gospel, and rightly so- John includes important details (it is nearly Passover, Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food) that would have caused his audience to make connections with the Last Supper. This passage also has important parallels to the story of Elijah feeding 100 people with twenty barley loaves and grain. Elijah, the great prophet- and Jesus' power is yet demonstrably stronger (feeding 5,000+ with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish). His inquiry of Phillip (who was from the area and would have known where to go for supplies) simply served to underscore the magnitude of this miracle - nearly a year's salary to satisfy the crowd!

• For what do you hunger?
• What do you want from Jesus?
• Have you prayed about these needs?

The next Catechumenate Session is on August 12.
That is also the date of the next Mystagogia session.
Inquiry is on August 14.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
July 22, 2012:

Jeremiah 23: 1-6

Psalm 23: 1-6

Ephesians 2: 13-18

Mark 6: 30-34

Do you find it easy to identify with the events in the Gospel this week? Remember, last Sunday we heard about Jesus sending the apostles out in pairs, trusting in the hospitality of the villages they visited, and told to heal and preach. Now, they've reconvened and Jesus is trying to find a bit of privacy to help them reflect on/debrief their experiences. Those of you with small children can probably identify with the feelings of trying to get just enough time to eat, or even take a shower!

• Why do you think the people were so insistent on being around Jesus?
• How did Jesus react?
• How do you react when 'just one more thing' delays your 'me time'?

The topic for the Catechumenate session this Sunday is Pastoral Ministry.
The next Inquiry session is Tuesday, July 24 at 7:00pm.
The Mystagogia group next meets on August 12.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
July 15, 2012:

 

Amos 7: 12-15

Psalm 85: 9-14

Ephesians 1: 3-14

Mark 6: 7-13

 

What do you notice about Jesus' instructions to his apostles as he sends them off on mission? It seems to me that he's giving them good advice for successful ministry among strangers.  Go in pairs- both for mutual support and encouragement and to keep each other accountable to the mission.  Don't overpack- take the basics, but if you are self-sufficient, how will you be open to people helping YOU (and in the process, establishing relationships, which are the basis for conversion).  Stay in one place- be content, don't waste your energies by comparing potential accommodations and amenities. Hospitality was strongly valued in this culture, and by the apostles putting themselves in a place of vulnerability by needing the hospitality of strangers, the all-too-human tendency to regard the other as inferior could be diminished.

• Is there someone you are feeling called to share the Good News of the Gospel with now? 
• If so, how might you approach them, in light of today's Scripture?

The next Catechumenate Session will be on July 22.

 

 

The Nativity of John the Baptist

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist,
June 24, 2012:

Isaiah 49: 1-6

Psalm 139: 1b-3, 13-15

Acts 13: 22-26

Luke 1: 57-66, 80

God, today we celebrate the feast of John the Baptist whose voice announces the coming of your reign. May we hear your voice and live more fully in your kingdom. ... Make our voices strong. Guide us in your truth. We pray through Christ, the light of the world. Amen. (Foundations in Faith, RCL)

The next Catechumenate session will be Sunday, July 8.
The next Inquiry session is Tuesday, June 26.
The next Mystagogia session is Sunday, July 8, serving the Migrant Ministry Dinner.

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time,
June 17, 2012:

Ezekiel 17: 22-24

Psalm 92: 2-3, 13-16

2 Corinthians 5: 6-10

Mark 4: 26-34

Both the first reading and the Gospel use the image of small things (shoots, seeds) being transformed into fruitful and sheltering plants. For Ezekiel, the mighty cedar taken from the small branch of the tree was an allegory for the restored kingship of Israel after the humiliation of the Exile. But any kingdom Jesus might be referencing in these parables is not a place, but rather the way it can be when God reigns in our lives. 

 

In the two parables of the seed, there are plenty of lessons to be gleaned. Is it about the mysterious forces God uses to accomplish growth? Is it about not relying entirely upon ourselves? Or the potential for the small to become great- but great in order to benefit others?

How do these parables speak to you?

The Catechumenate meets this Sunday and the topic is "Church and the Kingdom of God".

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood Of Christ

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ,
June 10, 2012:

Exodus 24: 3-8

Psalm 116: 12-13, 15-18

Hebrews 9: 11-15

Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26

You might have head this feast referred to by its Latin name, Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) and wondered why the Catholic Church is celebrating a Texas town.  The feast came first.

Or you might have read today's scriptures and wondered about all this preoccupation with blood, and felt glad not to have been in Moses' assembly, getting blood sprinkled on you!

For people of that time and culture, blood represented life. (It still does- so if you are eligible, please look for opportunities to donate blood!) So by the grand gesture of pouring blood on the altar and sprinkling blood on the people, Moses was demonstrating that their covenant with God was a sharing in the life of God, that their lives were bound together with God.

And in a deeper way, when God shared our life in fullness by becoming human, Jesus sealed the new covenant, sharing his very self with us as food.... nourishment that sustains our life. The Divine Life that is given to us so in our consuming the Holy Gifts we MAY REALLY be the Body of Christ. Our Eucharist reminds us of our promises to God and God's promises to us. Our Eucharist energizes us to continue Christ's mission in the world, guided by the Holy Spirit (through whose power simple bread and wine become for us the precious gift we celebrate on this feast!). And- so much more.

The Rite of Acceptance and Welcome will be celebrated at the 9:30AM Mass this Sunday, marking the beginning of the next session of the Catechumenate.

Mystagogia will meet in room 212 of the CARE Center.

And the next Inquiry session is Tuesday June 12.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, June 3, 2012:

Deuteronomy 4: 32-34, 39-40

Psalm 33: 4-6, 9, 18-20, 22

Romans 8: 14-17

Matthew 28: 16-20

The dogma of the Trinity tells me that the very nature of divinity is dynamic love.  For any lover there must be a beloved, and love shared abounds in creative power.  Love gives love (Father to Son), shares love (Son and Father) and becomes a fountain of life (Holy Spirit). Love itself is triune.  ... We know the Trinity not by mental abstractions but by the experience of the Father's love for us, infused with the Spirit in intimacy with Jesus Christ. Trinity is a mystery for sure, but not meant for confusion.  Fundamentally, the dogma of the Trinity reveals profound truths about God's dynamic life and love. (Peter Feldmeir in America magazine, 5/28/12)

• Is there a particular person of the Trinity to whom you most often pray? 
• What are your images of each, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
• If love has a creative power, where in your life are you loving?

The next Mystagogia session will be Sunday, June 10.

Feast of the Visitation

Today is the Feast of the Visitation, and I invite you to visit this post on our parish blog for parents for some background on the feast and simple ideas for making your own connection with it.

Solemnity of Pentecost

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of Pentecost, May 27, 2012:

Acts 2: 1-11

Psalm 104: 1, 24, 29-31, 34

1 Corinthians 12: 3b -7, 12-13

OR

Galatians 5: 16-25

John 20: 19-23

OR

John 15: 26-27; 16: 12-15

The reading to the Galatians provides us with the traditional listing of the fruits of the Holy Spirit- or what is evident in the life of a person who is guided by the Holy Spirit of God...

...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

• How fruitful is your life these days?
• In whom have you recently experienced one or more of these attributes? Do they know that you think this about them?

Our final weekly Mystagogia session will be this Sunday after the 9:30am Mass. After then, we will move to a monthly meeting schedule, which you have received in several emails.

Pentecost??

In preparation for mass this weekend, and our great feast of Pentecost, how about taking two minutes to watch this video?

Pentecost in Two Minutes - Busted Halo

And one way to celebrate the Holy Spirit is to wear red to mass this Sunday. See you there!

Ascension of the Lord

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, May 20, 2012:

Acts 1: 1-11

Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1: 17-23

(or Ephesians 4: 1-13)

Mark 16: 15-20

Brief thoughts on each of the readings, to jump-start your reflections.

Acts of the Apostles, as the Gospel of Luke, is addressed to Theophilus, which is a Greek name meaning Beloved of God.  Now, whether this was an actual early Christian (a community leader or a patron of Luke's?) or a generalized name for the entire Church.... I don't know. But let me invite you to accept this as your name: Beloved of God, and to read the Scriptures within this context.

There are two options for the second reading this Sunday, both poetic passages from the letter to the Ephesians. One is a warm wish for the gifts of God offered to us through the power of Jesus Christ. The other is encouragement to use the gifts we have been given in order to make the Body of Christ evident and strengthened in this world, in anticipation of our fulfillment in Christ in heaven.

This passage at the end of Mark's Gospel is one of two or three additional endings, while earliest manuscripts abruptly end at verse 8, in silence and fear at the reality of the empty tomb. Probably written in the 2nd century, given the reality of persecutions and the rejection by the Jews of Jewish-Christians, the strength of these (to us, strange) signs to comfort and protect might serve as needed encouragement to remain strong in their faith, to remain true to their mission.

Beloved. Gifted for mission. Encouraged in the midst of trial. 
Which of these speaks to you at this point in your life? Why?

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Here are the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 13, 2012:

 

Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Psalm 98: 1-4
1 John 4: 7-10

John 15: 9-17

 

Peter says these words in the first reading:

 "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him."

The passage from the first letter of John begins:

 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

And Jesus speaks these words in today's Gospel:

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.

• What do these words mean for you, deep into this Easter Season?
• What do they mean for you, as we celebrate Mother's Day?
• What do they mean for you, as a citizen of this state, nation, planet?

There is no Mystagogia meeting this Sunday; see you again on May 20!

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Here are the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 6, 2012:

 

Acts 9:26-31

Psalm 22: 26-28, 30-32
1 John 3: 18-24

John 15: 1-8

 

 

The Gospel holds so many images, so many metaphors...

Jesus the vine,  God the Father as the vine grower, We the branches.

Pruning, producing, withering, glorifying, connecting and separating.

What do these images say to you of your experience of faith, of Church, of daily life?

Mystagogia continues this Sunday at 10:45am.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 29, 2012:

 

Acts 4: 8-12

Psalm 118: 1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28-29
1 John 3: 1-2

Luke 10: 11-18

Some of the earliest Christian portrayals of Jesus on the walls of catacombs portray Jesus not on the crucifix, but as the Good Shepherd. And further symbolism and Scripture link Jesus not only as our shepherd, but as the sacrificial lamb whose blood spared the Hebrews from death at Passover, and whose blood now frees us from eternal death.

Good Shepherd, from the Catacombs of St. Callisto
(visited on parish pilgrimage in November 2011)

One commentary on this Gospel muses on the difference between the good shepherd and the hireling, and using Peter as an example of the hireling in his denial of Jesus after his arrest, and running away and hiding (unlike the Beloved Disciple who stood at the cross with Mary). And yet-- doesn't this say that there's hope for us all.. that the hireling CAN come back, can learn courage, and can become a good shepherd?

• How in your life are you like the Good Shepherd?
• How in your life are you like the Hireling?
• When do you feel like the well-cared for sheep?

At Mystagogia this week, we will be doing an exercise using the rosary and scripture.

Third Sunday of Easter

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter, April 22, 2012:

Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19

Psalm 4: 2, 4, 7-9
1 John 2: 1-5a

Luke 24: 35-48

To get the full drama of this resurrection account, it really is best to read ALL of Chapter 24 of Luke's Gospel. It begins with women going to the tomb, finding it empty, and reporting back to the apostles who don't believe them. Peter goes to the tomb and also finds it empty. Then we read the "Road to Emmaus" story, where Jesus joins two disciples on the road and is finally recognized by them in the familiar action of his blessing and breaking the bread at table. These disciples head back (still on the same day, by now the evening of Easter Sunday) and while they and the apostles are trading stories (can you imagine the speculation, doubt, hope, swirling around that room???), Jesus himself appears!

To help them get past their fears, he invites them to touch him and eats in front of them, proof that he is truly and fully raised, not just a figment of their collective imagination.

"Why are you troubled," he asks them, and "Peace" is his wish for and blessing of them. Not a scolding for deserting him on Good Friday, nor mocking them for cowering in fear in this room, but "peace".

•  Which story of Chapter 24 resonates most with you right now?
• In what way are our celebrations of sacraments similar to the events of this story?
• In what ways to do you experience Christ's peace?

Mystagogia continues this week after the 9:30am Mass.

Easter Vigil of the Lord's Resurrection

Here are the readings for our final service of the Triduum, 

the Great Easter Vigil,

which at St. Andrew's begins at 8:30pm on Holy Saturday.

Genesis 1: 1 - 2: 2

Genesis 22: 1-18
Exodus 14: 15- 15: 1

Isaiah 54: 5 - 55: 1
Baruch 3: 9-15, 32- 4: 4
Ezekiel 36: 16-17a, 18-28
Romans 6: 3-11

Mark 16: 1-7

Good Friday

Here are the readings for our second service of the Triduum, 

which at St. Andrew's begins at 3:00pm on Good Friday.

Isaiah 52: 13- 53: 12

Psalm 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25

Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9

John 18: 1- 19: 42

The Sacred Triduum Begins

This evening is the first of the three great services
of the Sacred Triduum (Latin, meaning three days).

Here are the readings for this evening's service:

Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14

Psalm 116: 12-13, 15-18

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

John 13: 1-15

Please click here for a reflection on Holy Thursday.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Here are the readings for the Palm/Passion Sunday, April, 2012:

Procession: Mark 11: 1-10
Isaiah 50: 4-7
Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Philippians 2: 6-11
Mark 14:1 -15: 47

And so it begins: our holiest week of the year, when in our liturgies we are invited to enter even more deeply, more physically as well as spiritually, into the Paschal Mystery. If only for a week, our priorities shift: we stop checking our watches and let the services flow, we find ourselves standing for long proclamations of the passion, kneeling again and again, having feet washed, approaching the cross with reverent love, and gathering outside in the dark around a fire as finally, finally, we come to experience once again Christ's victory over sin and death.

It is a story that can not be rushed. Nor can it be abridged or sanitized. Because this is not only the story of Jesus from Nazareth; it is our story, too.

As we prepare for the feast of Easter, please hold in prayer Casandra our Elect, and our candidates for full communion: Allen, Anna, Emma, Grace, Jamie, Jodie, Karen and Tonya. St. Andrew's is blessed by their presence and faith.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 25, 2012:

Jeremiah 31: 31-34
Psalm 51: 3-4, 12-15
Hebrews 5: 7-9
John 12: 20-33

Getting to the heart of the matter... that's what our scriptures this week are doing.
Jeremiah proclaims the Lord's promise of fidelity, of a law inscribed on the hearts of God's people. The psalmist beautifully expresses our yearning in these simple words:  
               A clean heart create for me, O God, 
                  and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
The author of Hebrews relates the reality of Jesus praying in order to learn from his suffering, and in our Gospel, Jesus pulls no punches about what it takes to be his follower. (your whole heart has GOT to be in it!)

With the Easter Vigil approaching quickly, and (our candidates) freshly forgiven by the grace of the sacrament of reconciliation ... how's your heart these days?

The Sign of the Cross

Here's a brief and interesting article on making the sign of the cross.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 18, 2012:

2 Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23
Psalm 137: 1-6
Ephesians 2: 4-10
John 3: 14-21

You know the feeling: you're walking along and trip over a blade of grass or walk into a doorway- not enough to injure anything but your pride... and you look around to make sure no one noticed. And you know that sinking feeling, when you've said something you shouldn't and you can only hope that it doesn't go any further. Or even that panic at work when you've made a mistake in a crucial area, and can only hope that no one notices, or someone else gets the blame. Multiply that by the times when you have seriousness sinned, and I bet you can relate to these sentences from the Gospel:

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

We've messed up. By all accounts, we deserve punishment and derision. And yet, we know that Jesus did not come to condemn us, mock us, make us squirm under the glaring lamp of the interrogation room. Jesus came out of love for us. To show us how to live in the freedom that comes from being in a right and honest relationship with God. And any squirming is self-imposed, from our recognition of our imperfections, paired with a desire to please the God Whom we love, Who first loved us.

God's love is freely offered to us-- that powerful love is what we call grace.

• When and how are you reluctant to accept God's love?
• What happens when you do?

The Catechumenate this Sunday will talk about grace and prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Third Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, March 11, 2012:

Exodus 20: 1-17 
Psalm 19: 8-11
1 Corinthians 1: 22-25
John 2: 13-25

What an interesting Gospel today: Jesus, the reconciler, riling up the temple marketplace! The moneychangers were actually performing a helpful service- exchanging the Roman and other local coins that had images of emperors or pagan symbols for money that could be accepted as an offering. (But--- were they being fair and honest in their trade?)
What made him so angry? Were people so caught up in the temple business trade that they ignored the purpose of the temple itself, the worship of God?

The Exodus reading gives us the Ten Commandments, and two of the first three deal with not having false gods and the reminder to keep the sabbath holy.

• Are there things (money, celebrity, acquisitions) that have taken over first place  in your heart from God?
• Do you dedicate time every week to thank God for all your blessings, to rest and pray and be recharged in your faith, your relationships, your physical being? If not, might there be some way to re-prioritize whatever it is that keeps you "busy"?

Due to some scheduling adjustments, the Penitential Rite for our candidates for full communion will be celebrated during the 9:30am Mass this Sunday. (Usually on the 2nd Sunday of Lent)

Please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour this Saturday night before you go to sleep!

Second Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, March 4, 2012:

Genesis 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 116: 10, 15-19
Romans 8: 31b-34
Mark 9: 2-10

This encouraging passage is from Paul's letter to the Romans:

Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?

As we continue our Lenten journey, entering the desert to confront our particular temptations and weaknesses, can you find in this scripture a reassurance that God wants only the best for you? And if so, what might that mean for your own ongoing conversion?

There is no RCIA session this Sunday- we will meet at 3:20pm at St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill for the 4pm Rite of Election. If you wish to car pool from St. Andrew's, we will leave at 2:45pm.

First Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the First Sunday of Lent, February 26, 2012:

Genesis 9: 8-15
Psalm 25: 4-9
1 Peter 3: 18-22
Mark 1: 12-15

If you think about it, isn't it strange how the story of Noah and the ark has become such a popular children's story? Toys, lunchboxes, stuffed animal sets... all commemorating the destruction of much of created life?!?! Well, the appeal for children lies in the irresistible cuteness and absurdity of pairs of animals on a boat. But what can the story hold for us?

Think about a time in your life and see if you can relate to these aspects of the story...

• Destructive flood - when did everything seem chaotic or lost?
• Ark of safety - who or what got you through it, helped you survive?
• Rainbow of God's promise - when and how did God's care for you become obvious?

This Sunday we will celebrate the Rite of Sending, in preparation for next Sunday's Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Rend your hearts, 
not your garments...
(Joel 2: 13)

Today we begin a new season of the church year. We pray for and with one another as we enter into this time of preparation for Easter. Lent makes no sense without Easter. Easter is given its meaning by the reality of Lent: all is not well. The good news is that God WANTS all to be well, and will do anything to help us.

Lent is the time for us to look inward, to allow ourselves to be vulnerable to and honest with God. And in recognizing our need for God's help, the most difficult part may well be in accepting it.

In the Gospel today (Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18), Jesus is talking about prayer, fasting and almsgiving, or charity. Christians are called to practice these disciplines throughout our lives, but especially during Lent. But Jesus doesn't sound very supportive of them: go hide and pray, pretend you're happy when your stomach's growling and your head hurts, don't worry about getting your name on the donor wall. Jesus does say to DO these things, but make them a part of your ordinary, everyday life- not for show, recognition or even a tax write-off, but as the normal course of living as the people of God.

Have you ever driven out on a rural road and passed a farm where the field is on fire? The farmer is burning the stubble of the old crop down. There are at least two good reasons to do this: 1) it gets the leftover stuff out of the way so that when plowing time arrives, the process is easier and 2) the ashes from that stubble nourish the soil and replenish the nutrients that had been taken by the previous crop. Isn't this a bold action? What if a wind comes up and the fire gets out of control? The farmer surely knows what he or she is doing, and yet there is that element of vulnerability required in order to let that first spark find a place to land.

And so today we wear the ashes, reminded of our humble origins, our fragility, and our connectedness with all creation. The cross on our foreheads reminds us that death can lead to new life; that Jesus Christ is not only our savior whose name we bear, but also our model of how to live a healthy, holy life. We are marked as a community of faith, a holy people, those saved by Christ's death and resurrection and yet continually in need of conversion.

To prepare for the new fire of the Easter Vigil, to truly proclaim Christ as the light of the world and our lives, we have been given the gift of this season of Lent. May we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to be thankful for the blessings in our lives and to ask God's Spirit to transform us and bring us every closer to Gd so that in these ashes, we may find renewal.

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 19, 2012:

Isaiah 43: 18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
Psalm 41: 2-5, 13-14
2 Corinthians 1: 18-22
Mark 2: 1-12

What are the main images for you in today's Gospel? Are you struck by the tenacity of the man's friends? By a sense of claustrophobia when yet another body enters the house- and through the roof, no less?! Exasperated by the sour mood of the Scribes? Wondering how the paralytic man was feeling during this whole time? Imagining the silence in the crowded room when they man DID get up and walk away?

What a full and rich story for us!

Recall and believe the words in Isaiah: Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!  As you reflect on yet another healing story, consider what there might be in your life that keeps you "paralyzed", unable to move on. Ask God to heal whatever it is in your past that keeps you 'stuck', and look to this coming season of Lent as the opportunity to believe both that your sins are forgiven and that you are healed!

The topic for the Catechumenate this week is Eucharist.

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 12, 2012:

Leviticus 13: 1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 11
1 Corinthians 10: 31 - 11: 1
Mark 1: 40-45

In the time of the Old Testament, physical imperfections were viewed as a indication of a lack of full holiness. And those who had physical limitations or noticeable illnesses were commanded to live apart from the community, so as not to 'pollute' or make the others impure. Notice what Jesus does to the leper: he touches the man. He reaches out to overcome the debilitating alienation and restores the man to his place in community. The healing may be physical, it was certainly spiritual and relational, too.

• Is there a relationship in your life that is in need of healing? 
• Is it your will that it be healed? 
• Who or what groups do we treat as outcasts today?

The topic for this Sunday's Catechumenate is the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
The final Mystagogia meeting will be at 10:45am in Room 214 of the CARE Center.