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.