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.