"Countdown to Christmas"- the O Antiphons

Here is a blog post that explains the ancient tradition of the "O Antiphons" that cover Dec. 17-23.

If you'd like a more local treatment of it, too- you can reference THIS blog's posts from a previous year:

Intro

December 17: O Wisdom

December 18: O Lord

December 19: O Flower of Jesse's Stem

December 20: O Key of David

December 21: O Radiant Dawn

December 22: O King of All Nations

December 23: O Emmanuel

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Here are the readings for the Last Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, November 24, 2013:

2 Samuel 5: 1-3
Psalm 122:  1-5
Colossians 1: 12-20
Luke 23: 35-43

 It is jarring to switch from the triumphalistic title of today's solemn feast (can't you even hear the royal brass blaring?) to the crucifixion scene in this week's Gospel.  And indeed, the early Christians had to grapple with the absurdity that the one they proclaimed as Messiah had been executed as a criminal. The resolution, of course, is in the glorious reality of Jesus Christs' victory over the ultimate foe-- even death is not strong enough to defeat God. 

Jesus, the 'image of the invisible God', the head of the Church, the Body of Christ.... the one who leads us to eternal life because of the power of  love. As we move toward the new liturgical year and into the season of Advent, we begin to reflect on the incarnation (God's desire to be one with us made flesh in Jesus) and on the second coming of Jesus as well. As Christians, we follow Jesus' example of loving service and sacrifice, knowing that by doing so, we become more fully the person God created us to be: a man or woman made in the Divine image and likeness. As we acclaim the dignity and sovereignty of the Lord, we can't help but evaluate how well we as the Body of Christ are living as the Body of Christ.

The Catechumenate meets this Sunday.
Inquiry may meet this Tuesday evening.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 17, 2013:

Malachi 3: 19-20a
Psalm 98:  5-9
2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12
Luke 21: 5-19

The readings during these final weeks of the church year certainly are attention-grabbing! Over the centuries these 'in those days...' readings have inspired some people to focus their lives on looking for clues as a way to predict the coming of the end-times.  Many have withdrawn from engagement with the world out of certainty that they can hear those final trumpets warming up, that the rapture is nigh.  What are we, as Catholic Christians, to make of this Gospel?

I asked that question of our elementary formation director today. Well, not exactly. Knowing she was preparing for Sunday's children's liturgy of the word, I asked her what she was going to tell very young children about this Gospel. "Jesus says, 'don't be afraid'," was her reply.  Of course! When news of destructive typhoons or scary strangers down the street or around the world can enter our homes (TV, internet, papers, etc) nearly immediately, there is a lot to be concerned about. But who is stronger than any bad thing or person, who REALLY wins in the end? Jesus.

I think I would add that Jesus is telling us not to be distracted. After all, the Gospel starts with Jesus' audience obsessing about the costly decorations of the temple, and he reminds them that as wonderful as they are, buildings are only temporary  So- they miss his point. THEN they start obsessing about WHEN the temple might be destroyed! It feels that Jesus goes overboard in piling on the predictions of woes.  Actually, when Luke wrote these words, many of these things had already happened- so he was putting them in the context of the need for perseverance and faith.  Luke's Jesus reminds his followers not to be distracted from the Good News of the Gospel by present or anticipated hardship and persecution.

Don't be afraid, don't be distracted, either by opulence or poverty, by praise or insults... remember your calling as a member of Christ's body- to love and serve one another, as Christ example leads us.

There are no RCIA meetings this Sunday. You are encouraged to participate as fully as possible in the parish Year of Faith Mission on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30pm. Please click here for more details. 
NOTE: There was an unexpected death in ValLimar Jansen's family, and the Year of Faith Mission is canceled and will be rescheduled after the holidays.

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 10, 2013:

2 Maccabees 7: 1-2, 9-14
Psalm 17:  1, 5-6, 8, 15
2 Thessalonians 2: 16 - 3: 5
Luke 20: 27-38

The Catechumenate and Mystagogia groups both meet this Sunday, and Inquiry will be this Tuesday!

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 3, 2013:

Wisdom 11: 22 - 12: 2
Psalm 145:  1-2, 8-11, 13-14
2 Thessalonians 1: 11 - 2: 2
Luke 19: 1-10

Many of us are fairly familiar with the Gospel story of Zaccheus: the man who was so eager to glimpse Jesus that he climbed a tree - and unexpectedly found himself hosting Jesus that night for dinner... and changing his ways from that encounter.


But let's focus on these beautiful words from the Book of Wisdom:

For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!

Motivations abound.  We might obey, or agree, or go along simply out of fear. Maybe out of indifference. Possibly to be thought well of. While those motivations might affect our actions, our deepest beliefs and inclinations could remain untouched.

But if we can believe, truly believe that God loves us to our very souls, that God's spirit is WITH us and wills for us to succeed in being utterly and simply ourselves (fully human, one made in the image and likeness of God)- oh, what a difference that would make! Armed with that courage, with the certitude of being loved and accepted, it becomes easier to admit our failings, to take that first step (either up, or out of, the tree) to letting God's spirit transform our lives.

• Spend some time this week contemplating the gift of YOUR life. 
• How well can you accept that God is in love with you?
• In what ways do you need God's spirit to strengthen your will to be fully human?

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 27, 2013:

Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
Psalm 34:  2-3, 17-19, 23
2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
Luke 18: 9-14

It may well be from a bumper sticker, or simply the sort of sentiment that would wind up on one, but the Gospel for this week leads me to this one thought:

Those who are full of themselves 

leave little room for God.

• When you are most honest with yourself, in what ways do you need God?
• Have you prayed about these needs?
• In what ways have you felt the love of God guiding, comforting, strengthening you?
• Have you prayed about these blessings?

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 20, 2013:

Exodus 17: 8-13
Psalm 121: 1-8
2 Timothy 3: 14- 4:2
Luke 18: 1-8

Still existing in a few cultures today, at the time of Jesus  women had no right to speak in public, and very few legal rights at all. So the parable that appears in Luke's Gospel is yet another example of characters behaving in unconventional ways.  What may not be clear to us in this story is that it does not involve JUST the judge and the widow, but there would have been a crowd of onlookers. And this crowd was well aware of the Hebrew commands to look out for the 'widow and orphan', the most vulnerable in society.  So, while the judge may have said he didn't care what others thought, eventually he realized that the onlookers would talk about his lack of attentiveness to her problem and their tradition. The woman on her own may have been unconvincing, but the airing of an injustice within a community might sometimes advance a cause.

In other words, I don't think the point that Jesus is making is to nag God if you want something. In fact, Jesus is comparing God favorably against the shameless judge... assuring us that God hears us and is on the side of justice.

The first reading as well demonstrates the benefits of being part of a community. When Moses got tired, Aaron and Hur helped him. 

Temptations exist to go it alone in our faith- whether it is tuning out our neighbor in the pew at Mass, or making up our own spirituality to fit today's mood. But we have been baptized into the BODY of Christ, anointed for the mission of serving and loving one another, and requiring the guidance and support of Scripture and the entire Body of Christ (the Church) in order to have any semblance of success.

• A suggestion for this weekend: if you are sitting near someone you don't know at Mass, before Mass begins, introduce yourself. Learn their name. Remember them by name as you pray during Mass, and look them in the eye at the Sign of Peace. Since we believe that Christ is truly present in the people assembled for liturgy, this might be one way to recognize that dignity, that presence of Christ in the person next to you in the pew.

John XXIII from "Who Cares About The Saints?" with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

Here is a video to give you a little more background on Blessed John 23rd!

Blessed John XXIII

Today is the feast day of Blessed John the 23rd, who was the Pope who called for the Second Vatican Council, one of the most important events in the Catholic Church in many centuries.

The first session of the Second Vatican Council began on October 11, 1962.  While this linked article -which will give you more information about Good Pope John -lists his feast day as June 3 (the date of his death), October 11 is obviously also linked to him for the obvious association with Vatican 2.

(Once he's canonized in April, 2104, we'll see what the official, official date is!)

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 13, 2013:

2 Kings 5: 14-17
Psalm 98: 1-4
2 Timothy 2: 8-13
Luke 17: 11-19

"Good fences make good neighbors" goes the famous line from Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" , and even more so, boundaries were important in the time of Jesus.

By their skin condition (most probably not Hansen's disease as we know it today), they had been cast out of the community, for fear that their impurity would make others likewise impure. In healing them, Jesus was not only restoring their physical health, but allowing them to regain participation in their religious tradition. So the nine who left were simply following the law, being readmitted by the priests to the community through the proper channels. It's worth noting that the one who did return to thank Jesus was a Samaritan- an outsider among outsiders, and for whom going to the temple was not an option. So, he returns to the one who enabled his renewal of health. 

Jesus repeatedly 'breaks the rules' by transcending established boundaries in order to heal and restore. And while rules are certainly essential for good order in society and church, letting rules become an idol can keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ in our midst.

• How have you been blessed?
• Have you thanked God?

 Mystagogy meets this Sunday 10:45-11:30am in CARE Room 212.
We will welcome Ilfra into the full communion of the Catholic Church with confirmation and first communion this Sunday at the 11:30am Mass.

Sorry!

It's been a busy couple of weeks around here, and this blog has been neglected!  My apologies- we'll be back on track this week!

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 22, 2013:

Amos 8: 4-7
Psalm 113: 1-2, 4-8
1 Timothy 2: 1-8
Luke 16: 1-13

Why did the Lord Jesus present this parable to us? He surely did not approve of that cheat of a servant . . . It is not because that servant cheated but because he exercised foresight for the future. When even a cheat is praised for his ingenuity, Christians who make no such provision blush.
—Saint Augustine

How DO we make sense of a parable in which Jesus seems to be commending cheating? It's hard to say! So let's consider it from this point of view: for Jesus, relationships are more important than profit.  The Master, while he lost out on the payment of produce, was thought of by the debtors as a generous and honorable man. The debtors, by the way, might finally see a year when they could provide for their own families, and feel gratitude to both the master and the steward. And the steward, who could have been imprisoned but 'merely' lost his job would find in those debtors advocates and potential future help.

Too often it is the poor who are cheated at the hands of the rich. Here, we are assured of God's gracious generosity in forgiving the debts of our sins, and in accepting the gifts we are able to offer.

• In your life, what 'debt forgiveness' would cause you great joy?
• What's preventing that from being accomplished?

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 15, 2013:

Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14
Psalm 51: 3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
1 Timothy 1: 12-17
Luke 15: 1-32

The Gospel today contains 3 parables, 3 stories that Jesus told  the religious leaders who were displeased with Jesus. They disapproved of his interactions with sinners... it might be okay to throw some food their way, but to actually sit down and eat WITH them would be simply unholy!

In each of these parables, the main actor is behaving, by our standards, imprudently or as going overboard in their quest for what we might dismiss as insignificant. In these stories we learn about the unlimited love and mercy of God, and to Divine Joy when we come back to ourselves, our senses.

• In what way is this message Good News for you?
• In what way is it a challenge to our own management of the mercy we offer others?
• Are our hearts ready to rejoice when those who are lost return and find warm welcome?

Rejoicing for a slightly different reason, at the 11:30am Mass this Sunday, we will welcome Nathan as he enters into full communion with the Catholic Church!

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 8, 2013:

Wisdom 9: 13-18b
Psalm 90: 3-6, 12-17
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14: 25-33

Does it seem to you a bit jarring that in these final lazy days of summer, the Gospel messages aren't a sweet invitation to lull around with just one more glass of lemonade and take it easy? These words of Jesus lately have been.... challenging. But really: HATE your family, RENOUNCE all your possessions?

Let's start with a little clarification on the vocabulary: in this context, 'hate' does not mean to have intense dislike for another. It was rather a directive to prefer Jesus to any other relationship. To put God First, as bumper stickers might say today. Renouncing possessions is also a matter of priority- do you own your belongings or do they own you? And does your concern for your possessions get in the way of you being a faithful disciple?  Jesus continues with two short stories to illustrate the need to consider the consequences before jumping into any serious commitment.

Notice the first line of the Gospel, "Great crowds were traveling with Jesus." He was, at least for the moment, the Next Big Thing. But Jesus knew that he was on the way to Jerusalem, and that popularity only goes so far. He challenged this crowds, as he challenges us today to be honest about our priorities. The reality is NOT choosing between God OR loved ones, the Christian reality is that in paying primary attention to our relationship with God, our lives with ours, and our interaction with our possessions will consequently and naturally be rightly ordered. 

A second aspect to Jesus' challenge to Hate/Renounce might be in regard to the inclusive nature of his ministry. There is no one in this world Jesus does not love, or for whom he does not offer redemption. If we are to be his disciples, if we are to follow Christ so closely that people recognize Christ in us, we can't limit ourselves to the insularity of our family, neighborhood, ethnic group, country, etc.  Appreciating the safety and familiarity of those we know and love is fine, but if it becomes a barrier to serving whoever is in need, that's an impediment to following Jesus.

• Who or what causes you to hesitate when given the opportunity to follow Christ more closely?

Mystagogia Meets this Sunday, Sept. 8 at 10:45- 11:30am in Room 212.
Inquiry meets this Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 1, 2013:

Sirach 3: 17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68: 4-7, 10-11
Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14: 1, 7-14

At first glance the second reading (from the letter to the Hebrews) is just an overwhelming torrent of words and images. But to understand that the unnamed author is comparing the old covenant, and the Israelites approaching Mt. Sion for as much of an interaction with the transcendent, unknowable, remote- almost, God as they could endure, with the new Zion- the fullness of unity and joy made possible through the incarnation and sacrifice of the God-made-Human, life in and with Jesus Christ.  The author reaches back to the fourth chapter of Genesis to contrast the vengeance demanded by the spilling of Abel's blood with the forgiveness and healing offered by Jesus' blood. Jesus' sacrifice is the sign of the new covenant- offering us a level of relationship, a sharing in Divine Love that is impossible to earn and would be too much too bear if not for the power of God's grace!

(Talk about an overwhelming torrent of words- those were some seriously run-on sentences!)

What we find in this second reading is the joyful conclusion for those whom God has judged to be righteous- to be in 'right relationship'. What are a few defining characteristics of the righteous? The first reading and the Gospel provide some insight: a positive sense of humility (knowing who you are, not grasping for fame and recognition), an appreciation and contentment for the gifts you have received, and a generosity for sharing your gifts with those who most need it.

• In what areas of your life are you content?
• In what areas do you feel in need of 'more'? (and what IS that 'more'?)

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 25, 2013:

Isaiah 66: 18-21
Psalm 117: 1-2
Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13
Luke 13: 22-30

In the Cultural World of Jesus (Cycle C), John J. Pilch writes this  about the puzzling words of this Sunday's Gospel:

It is not enough to have shared a meal with Jesus. A radical change of life is also necessary to establish a kinship relationship with him.

Jesus' contemporaries remind him: "You taught in our streets." Jesus' harsh reply to them insinuates: "Yes, but all you did was listen. You did not take my teaching to heart and reform your lives. You think superficial acquaintance with me and all my teachings suffices." Jesus offers a prophetic warning to believers of all times.

• What message of Scripture has challenged you?
• Have you change because of it? Why? Why Not?

Catholics and the Bible

Are you curious about what Catholics think about the Bible, or simple unfamiliar with the Holy Book entirely? This site offers a fairly good overview, calling it "Bible Boot Camp". (but I don't think they make you do push-ups!)

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 18, 2013:

Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10
Psalm 40: 2-4, 18
Hebrews 12: 1-4
Luke 12: 49-53

"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." Hey, what happened to that peaceful, healing Jesus we usually read about in Luke's Gospel? And what's with the fire imagery, isn't that for that place that's the opposite of heaven?

Think more about the refining fire that separates the impurities from the gold. Consider the imagery of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as tongues of flame. And recall that baptism required a total immersion of self, resulting in a new lifestyle, a new mission. Jesus is yearning for us to find that spark that energizes us to action. And the simple reality is this- our change in belief, in speech, in lifestyle, may well be a source of discomfort or puzzlement for those closest to us.  It's not that Jesus is coaching us to encourage dissent, he's trying to prepare us for the reality that being his disciple comes with a cost. But once you let the Holy Spirit be your guide and your strength, how do you choose otherwise?

There's another section from the book of the prophet Jeremiah (verses 7-9) that speaks to this reality: "the word of the Lord has brought me derision  ... I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak his name no more. But then it becomes like a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in..."

Have you felt that- in your workplace, professional life, prayer time with God? Something that is so deeply important that holding it back is painful?  Maybe, just maybe, this Jesus of peace and healing is hoping that we each have enough spark of desire to be moved out of our complacency, beyond our fears and reluctance, and set the world ablaze with the power of God's love!

Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

Tomorrow, August 15, is one of those days (other than every Sunday) when we as Catholics are 'obliged' to gather together to pray, a "Holy Day".  It's a way to jolt us out of our everyday routines and reflect on some mysterious reality - how God is at work in our world and our lives. This feast is about our long-held belief that at the time of her death, Mary's (the mother of Jesus) body was assumed into heaven, rather than being buried and being subject to the normal course of 'ashes to ashes'.  If you would like more background on this feast, please click and read this post from a prior year.

The Mass Schedule at St. Andrew the Apostle for August 15 is: 6:30AM, 9:00 AM and 7:30PM.
Come celebrate the mighty love and works of God!

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 11, 2013:

Wisdom 18: 6-9
Psalm 33: 1, 12, 18-22
Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19
Luke 12: 32-48

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

This time of year brings transitional events for many, especially younger people (and their parents). Children starting back to school, young adults heading off to college, lucky recent graduates settling into their first jobs and apartments are just a few examples of new/exciting/intimidating changes. The second reading (from Hebrews) and the Gospel might have some helpful advice for these adventurers. Faith strengthens us to take that step into the unknown. Awareness of what is required of us and following through on our commitments will certainly please our 'master' (teacher? boss? landlord? parent?).

But above all, as each of us enters into whatever transition awaits, this brief line from the Gospel is invaluable in aligning our priorities correctly: where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

• How well do what you name as 'values' in your life align with how you invest your time/money/energy?
• When did you feel called to set out on a new venture, relying primarily on your faith? How did that make you feel?
• To whom or what do you 'give your heart'?

The Mystagogia group will meet this Sunday at 10:45-11:30am.
The Catechumenate meets at 12:45.
Inquiry is this Tuesday at 7pm

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 4, 2013:

Ecclesiastes 1: 2, 2: 21-23
Psalm 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17
Colossians 3: 1-5, 9-11
Luke 12: 13-21

One of the seven core principles of Catholic Social Teaching involves "Rights and Responsibilities".

People have basic rights and responsibilities because of their human dignity which reflects the fact that they have been created in God's image. Catholic teaching emphasizes that people have a right to life and to the basic necessities that provide quality to life: food, shelter, health care, education and employment. We are called to respect the rights of others and to seek the common good.

• What do the readings for this weekend have to do with this principle?
• What challenges you? What is affirming for you?
• What action might you be called to in response to Scripture?

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 28, 2013:

Genesis 18: 20-32
Psalm 138: 1-3, 6-8
Colossians 2: 12-14
Luke 11: 1-13

Persistence.

What are we to make of God in these readings? Do we learn from Abraham that to get what you want, you have to haggle with God like some sort of celestial rug salesman?  And are we supposed to nag God, in Jesus' story of the late-night neighbor? What are we saying about God in these examples?

Perhaps the better question is, what do these examples say about ourselves? Is it just possible that in the course of Abraham's back and forth with God, Abraham is coming to a deeper awareness of God's care and concern for every single person (which might be a stretch in a culture that had little notion of an individual, apart from their larger identity group)?  Is persistence held up as a virtue that honors stubbornness, or as a way that helps us understand whether what we ask for is something we REALLY want, something we're really willing to stand up for, something we really NEED?  Maybe in the process of being persistent, we are given the time and space to reframe and rename our request, to experience a conversion toward God's perspective that helps us to 'ask rightly'.

Whatever we decide these readings mean for us today, you are invited to look to the premier example of prayer that Jesus gives us in the Gospel, the "Our Father", and spend some time with each phrase seeing how these words can help shape your own prayer.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 21, 2013:

Genesis 18: 1-10a
Psalm 15: 2-5
Colossians 1: 24-28
Luke 10: 38-42

For an extended but wonderful reflection on today's Gospel, let me refer you to "First Impressions".
Dominican Father Jude Siciliano coordinates this website, used to help preachers in their preparations.
I invite you to click the link, take a few minutes and let his reflections be a catalyst for your own this week!

Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 14, 2013:

Deuteronomy30: 10-14
Psalm 69: 14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37
-or-
Psalm 19: 8-11
Colossians 1: 15-20
Luke 10: 25-37

 "Just leave it to the experts."

Moses, addressing his people in preparation for them reaching the promised land (without him), did not say that.  Jesus, in fleshing out the lawyer's answer about inheriting eternal life, did not say that, either.

The law of God is not some encrypted, password protected, obscure, dense treatise. It is not for only the privileged few to know and carry out. It is, "something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts." In other words, deep down you know what's right, you can feel what is right, you've got this!

If only it were always that simple, right?

The parable of the Good Samaritan in this Sunday's Gospel illustrates some challenges to acting and living according to the law of love, which is the essence of the law of God. Sometimes the demands or obligations of our profession might impede our better intentions (if the wounded stranger was dead, touching him would have rendered the priest unclean, and unable to perform his Temple duties), sometimes fear of the opinions of others, peer pressure, or 'going along to get along' hems in the inclinations of our better nature ('if the priest did nothing, perhaps I shouldn't' might've been going through that Levite's mind). Sometimes a healthy sense of 'stranger danger' goes overboard, and every interaction becomes a potential trauma, rather than a potential encounter with Christ in this unknown neighbor. 

• Who are the 'neighbors' you avoid? Why? (sometimes there ARE good reasons!) 
• When have you felt the law of God tugging at your heart, occupying your thoughts? What happened? 
• How might you love God by serving a 'neighbor' this week?

The Mystagogia group will meet at St. Bernadette's at 4:30pm this Sunday to help with the Migrant Ministry Dinner. (please check your email for directions)

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 7, 2013:

Isaiah 66: 10-14c
Psalm 66: 1-7, 16, 20
Galatians 6: 14-18
Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20

The big churchy buzz-phrase lately has been 'the new evangelization".  As best as I can determine, it involves Catholics coming to a deeper understanding of and lived appreciation for their faith, in order to make the Gospel more attractive and easily apparent to others. (please correct me if I am wrong)

Has summer lulled you into complacency? Are you feeling fairly blase about all things spiritual? Is just getting to church on Sunday too much effort, never mind more deeply understanding your faith?! If you can summon the umph to click the "Here are the readings" link (or: HERE!) maybe we can get back in gear...

Consider the tender imagery in the first reading, images first meant to encourage the Jews newly returned from exile in Babylon, as they went about the tasks of rebuilding the temple and their faith tradition.  Here around St Andrew's lately, nature has exploded: walk around our courtyards and you can't help but notice flowers tumbling over themselves, birds singing loudly, even a bunny or two hopping around! Let this first reading encourage you to view the world, if only for a few moments, as a child might - look around and discover what delights you, and let that lead you to rejoice in the God who provides it all for you!

The Gospel invites us to share that delight. Jesus is telling his disciples in essence, okay, you've been watching me, now it's YOUR turn. What are his directions for success?

• Don't try to do it alone- help each other stay focused and stay encouraged.
• Keep it simple, don't get so weighed down with 'stuff' (gadgets, plans, obligations) that you can't be flexible and open.
• Let yourself be vulnerable- let others help you. If others only feel indebted to you, they may only grudgingly accept your message. If we're helping each other, so much the better.
• Don't worry about advancement of whatever sort, be content and grateful for what you do have.
• Don't stew over 'failure'. Keep looking for the next opportunity to love as Jesus does.

See you in Church this weekend!

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 30, 2013:



1 Kings 19: 16b, 19-21
Psalm 16: 1-2, 5, 7-11
Galatians 5: 1, 13-18
Luke 9:51-62

Jesus' back and forth in this Gospel with would-be disciples seems fairly harsh - their requests seem reasonable enough, don't they? It helps to remember that at this point in Luke, Jesus is journeying to Jerusalem, where he will ultimately be arrested and put to death. Earlier in the chapter (9), we find Jesus miraculously feeding a crowd, Peter naming Jesus as "the Christ", Jesus warning them about the burdens of discipleship, a mysterious transfiguration, healing a boy of demonic possession AND the disciples arguing about who is the greatest! I'm tired just thinking about all this action!

While Jesus is repeatedly trying to prepare his followers for his suffering- and theirs- many are simply getting caught up in the wonder of all these amazing things. So when one eager disciple comes up and says he'll follow Jesus 'wherever', Jesus wants to be sure he understands the depth of the required commitment! And as for telling the bereaved son to 'let the dead bury the dead', Jesus was speaking in hyperbole to a person he recognized as spiritually alive, not dead. And to the third person he advised the need to eliminate distractions and prioritize obligations if he would be successful. (Looking back while plowing ensures a crooked row!)
Just after this Gospel passage, Jesus sends out the 72 disciples on a mission - so he really was making sure that would-be disciples were up for the task! (It would have been a disaster for his mission if the disciples went out and whined about the food and accommodations rather than preaching the Gospel message! Have you ever followed a car that has the fish emblem on it, and witnessed the driver behaving in a most un-Christian manner? Kind of like that.)

There's a freedom that Jesus offers to those who choose to follow him. The freedom of the promise of the Gospel. But he's no huckster- he's not trying to trick any of us into the life of discipleship-- we all know that some choices are inconvenient, painful even. But we have it luckier than Jesus' original disciples- we know the truth of the resurrection! And we are gifted with God's Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us through it all.

• What are some of the distractions that keep you from fully following Jesus?
• How might you attend to them?

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 23, 2013:

Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1
Psalm 63: 2-6, 8-9
Galatians 3: 26-29
Luke 9: 18-24

• As a disciple of Christ, in what ways do you feel you must deny yourself certain things? 
• What are the crosses in your life? 
• In what way can bearing those crosses be redemptive?

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 16, 2013:

2 Samuel 12: 7-10, 13
Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 7, 11
Galatians 2: 16, 19-21
Luke 7: 36- 8:3


How do you show God your gratitude?

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 9, 2013:

1 Kings 17: 17-24
Psalm 30: 2, 4-6, 11-13
Galatians 1: 11-19
Luke 7: 11-17


 In both the first reading and the Gospel, a woman who has already lost her husband, is now faced with the reality of the loss of her only son, too. Beyond the compounded grief of the death of a love one, a woman in that society depended upon a male relative (husband or son) as the breadwinner, for her basic survival. Are you able, then, to imagine the feelings engulfing these widows?

We are confronted with the questions of 'why' in times like these. We struggle with the reality of death, wrenching loss, of dreams destroyed and a fearsome future.

Into this abyss steps the power of God's grace, the love which overcomes sin and death. The assurance that- in time, our mourning will be turned into dancing, and we will indeed find rescue in the One who walks with us even when we are unaware of God's presence.  God's compassion was conveyed in the past through prophets like Elijah and through Jesus Christ. Today, by the presence of the Holy Spirit among us as the Body of Christ, the Church, we are the vessels through which God's boundless compassion might heal a hurting world.

• What might a greater sense of compassion allow you to do for someone this week? 

Mystagogia meets this Sunday at 10:45am.
Inquiry meets on Tuesday June 11 at 7pm.

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 2, 2013:

Genesis 14: 18-20
Psalm 110: 1-4
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
Luke 9: 11b-17

Too often, we turn the action of the Eucharist into an object.
Not sure what I mean by that?

Please consider this recent post,
as you reflect on the mysteries of this feast.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 26, 2013:

Proverbs 8: 22-31
Psalm 8: 4-9
Romans 5: 1-5
John 16: 12-15

One of the deepest mysteries of our faith  concerns the nature of God. Christians are not polytheists-- we don't believe in many gods-- and somehow we believe that this ONE God is revealed to us as three persons. (Note to contemporary people: 'person' in theological language means something different than 'independent individual')  St Patrick famously used the example of a shamrock to teach the Irish how God can be Three-in-One. Other early Christians used various images to help us try to approach an idea of who and how God is.

Using a biblical image, St. Augustine (354-430) used the experience of fire to speak of the Trinity. He said, "Fire cannot burn without its brightness and its warmth." In this image fire represents the Father; the brightness of the fire shining into the world symbolizes Jesus Christ; and the warmth of the fire is the Holy Spirit, the love poured into our hearts. This image helps us to see that the Trinity is a very special way of speaking about the one God: God is beyond us, with us, and within us.

... Tertullian (2nd century) also described the triune God by using the image of a river. It has a source (Father), it flows outward (Christ) and it irrigates land and helps to bring forth vegetation (the Spirit).       (Catholic Update "Who is the Holy Spirit" June 1995)

While the Doctrine of the Trinity is important-- it truly IS a mystery--- a reality too big for words, but a reality nonetheless. Use the gift of this solemn feast to simply delight in the scriptures readings. Imagine how very deeply God- who is perfect and complete within God's Self- loves you! Trust in the promises of Jesus, and find comfort in the peace that comes through patient, enduring faith.  Relax and appreciate ALL that God has done for us all- in the gifts of creation, the forgiveness of sins, and empowering us for love and service. Much to celebrate, indeed!

The next Mystagogia session will be June 9.

Pentecost Sunday

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of Pentecost, May 19, 2013:

Acts 2: 1-11
Psalm 104: 1, 24, 29-31, 34
1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13
-or- Romans 8: 8-17
John 20: 19-23
-or- John 14: 15-16, 23b-26

Do me a favor, please. In addition to these listed Scripture readings, please click here and read Genesis 11: 1-9.

Okay? Do you see any similar themes between that and the reading in Acts?

In the Genesis account, the people start out united and end up, through their own ambitions, scattered and unable to understand each other.  In Acts people of diverse cultures and languages, through the Holy Spirit's power, are restored to understanding and unity. The early Christians would have recognized those comparisons and viewed the Pentecost event as a clear sign of renewal and reconciliation. It was a reminder, too, to be about the work of Jesus Christ, to focus on his mission, rather than become busy  with self-centered projects whose only goal is to 'make a name for ourselves'.

In light of these few thoughts, I invite you to read the Pentecost scriptures again, with your own confirmation in mind.

• Which one of the (many) readings most directly speaks to your faith life right now?
• Is there a specific response, action or change that it is calling you to?
• How will you participate in the work of Jesus Christ in the coming week?

Mystagogia meets this Sunday at 10:45am.
In celebration of the Holy Spirit, consider wearing RED to Mass this weekend!

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord , May 12, 2013:

Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1: 17-23
Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11
-or- Hebrews 9: 24-28, 10:19-23
Luke 24: 46-53

The feast that we celebrate this Sunday used to be known as "Ascension Thursday".  It was a "Holy Day of Obligation", occurring 40 days after Easter. Some years ago, the Bishops were allowed to decide whether to transfer this Solemnity to what had been the Seventh Sunday of Easter or keep it on Thursday. The vast majority decided that they wanted as many people as possible to celebrate this feast, so they transferred it to the Sunday (it remains a Holy Day of Obligation on Thursday mostly in Northeastern Dioceses of the US (and Nebraska, and in Vatican City (but not Rome!)).

Now, some people will 'tsk-tsk' and say that it is a matter of bishops caving in to lazy Catholics who don't want to be bothered with getting themselves to Mass in the middle of the week.  Let me suggest that it was a practical recognition of the realities of modern life. Realities like longer work commutes that pull us far from our home parishes, pressures for overtime or short/non-existent lunches that make getting to the Masses (which sometimes are not scheduled with these challenges in mind) unrealistic for many well-intentioned Catholics. Oh yes, and those who are too tired or lazy to get off the couch, put down the x-box and worship God, they/we exist, too.

Before we get too worked up about how lax Catholic practice has become, it may be helpful to remember the realities of prior centuries. Forty-hour work weeks, sick days and vacation time are modern inventions. For most of our history, working 6 days a week was the norm, year-round. Insisting on a Sabbath, a day of rest, was a way to ensure that people would have a chance to take a breath and recharge on a regular basis. And adding in "Holy Days of Obligation", and other seasonal feasts ('rogation days') were other opportunities scattered throughout the year when people would be granted a holiday, one that included worship, of course.  We no longer live in those conditions (either the lack of free time or Christianity being the official state religion) ... so naturally our practices have evolved as well.  Please don't misunderstand me- I fully encourage us all to fully celebrate Holy Days of Obligation (which include every Sunday, by the way).... it just helps, I think, to understand where they came from.

But- back to the Solemnity of the Ascension! The first reading is from the very beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, and Luke takes up where he left off in his Gospel. And he addresses this book to "Theophilus", a name that means 'one who loves God' ... while it may be a specific person, it is far more likely that Luke is writing, hopefully, to each one of us. By his words, he encourages us to fall deeper in love with God, who is so very in love with us!

In these powerful last weeks of the Easter Season, as we contemplate the bodily departure of Jesus from the earth in preparation for the Spiritual presence for all, through all time, I invite you to find some quiet time to talk with God (and listen, too!) about your love. To articulate your joys, fears, insights and challenges. And to ask for the particular grace (or the knowledge to now what that should be!) to help you live as "Theophilus" would.

There is no Mystagogia session this Sunday.

Some words on patience...

In his homily this morning at Mass, Pope Francis spoke of patience. He used the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles as a starting point for his reflections.

"Being patient: that is the path that Jesus also teaches us Christians. Being patient ... This does not mean being sad. No, no, it's another thing! This means bearing, carrying the weight of difficulties, the weight of contradictions, the weight of tribulations on our shoulders. This Christian attitude of bearing up: of being patient. That which is described in the Bible by a Greek word, that is so complete, Hypomoné, in life bearing ever day tasks; contradictions; tribulations, all of this. These - Paul and Silas - bear their tribulations, endure the humiliation: Jesus bore them, he was patience. This is a process - allow me this word 'process' - a process of Christian maturity, through the path of patience. A process that takes some time, that you cannot undergo from one day to another: it evolves over a lifetime arriving at Christian maturity. It is like a good wine. "

So, as we all continue on our process of maturing as a Christian, remember to be patient with yourself... and each other!

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Here are the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter , May 5, 2013:

Acts of the Apostles 15: 1-2, 22-29
Psalm 67: 2-3, 5, 6, 8
Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23
John 14: 23-29

 Luke's account (in the Acts of the Apostles) is of an early controversy in the growing Christian church-- what exactly, legally, technically, is required to be a 'good Christian'?
(Sadly, that's a question that some people are still obsessed with today)

The earliest followers of Jesus were, of course, Jews - and they had remained practicing Jews even as they began living like Christ (Christian). When the Good News began to spread to the Gentiles (people who were not Jewish) it caused an identity crisis: do we first have to convert the Gentiles to Judaism, in order for them to be fully Christian??

Beyond being an honest theological struggle, this is an all-too-familiar human situation: those considered part of the 'in-crowd' are often tempted to make admission standards oppressively high. Beyond this particular controversy, we can look to the first reading for an example of a Spirit-led discernment and decision-making process. We can see in the early Church clear evidence of a collegial deliberation which involved not just the hierarchy, but listening to people representing all of its members, and only completed once word went back to Jerusalem of the various communities acceptance of the decision. The larger an institution becomes, the harder to hold to this ideal.

But is it possible in our own families, maybe even among our co-workers? This week, consider how well you allow the Spirit to help you listen to others with attention and intention. If you are in a position of leadership, how open are you to learning from those you lead?  If you are not in a 'position of power', what ways are most effective for communicating your needs, insights and convictions?

Mystagogia continues this Sunday, 10:45-11:30am.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Here are the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter , April 28, 2013:

Acts of the Apostles 14: 21-27
Psalm 145: 8-13
Revelation 21: 1-5a
John 13: 31-35

 In our "Church Lives" we are deep into the Easter Season- the special time in our liturgical year that overflows with joy and alleluias, finds us reveling in Christ's victory over sin and death, and reading about the powerful expansion of the early Church. Wilting lilies are replaced with fresh new flowers, baptisms and weddings, first communions and confirmations- generally not celebrated during Lent- resume full force! All is wonderful!

And yet.

In our "Real Lives", the joy feels muted and for some, unrecognizable. Factory buildings fall on impoverished workers, innocent people get injured at a marathon, violence and corruption seem to rule the day, while families and individuals struggle with employment or economic or health or marital or addiction or ..... issues.

How can we reconcile this dichotomy?

Let's start with readjusting our vision. We don't have "church lives" and "real lives", we have LIVES, whose various aspects incorporate, integrate and inform each other. And while we live in 2013 with our particular set of hardships -- real, not-to-be-discounted hardships -- these challenges have always been a part of being human. Even in the glow of making many new followers for Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles reported that Peter and Barnabas had to "strengthen[ed] the spirits of the disciples and exhort[ed] them to persevere in the faith." Sharing and believing the Good News does not inoculate us from pain; it may well open our hearts up to more ways to have them broken, in compassion. 

John's vision in the Book of Revelation of a 'new heaven and a new earth' expresses that deep longing we share for all to be made right. The comforting promise of this vision is this:

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”

God is not disinterested in our pain, locked away in a golden box, accessible only with special words from worthy people. God lives with us, not only wiping the tears from our eyes, but sighing and crying along with us. Such an audacious assertion?! Not that 'out there', at all: through the gift of Holy Spirit, whose coming we will soon celebrate at Pentecost, God does indeed live with us, within us, empowering us to continue Jesus' mission of reconciliation, healing, forgiveness and love. God is with us in the rescue workers, the mourners, the runners raising money to help the victims, the health care workers, and the friend we turn to for consolation. John's Gospel this Sunday concludes:

I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.

Every time we gather for Mass, we come to praise God, the Source of all Love, to offer our triumphs and failures and be nourished by Scripture and the Eucharist. It is not a 'time out' from real life, but possibly the most real time of our lives each week- when we are reminded who we belong to and how we are to live. That's a mighty big task for one person--- which is why we need each other, why we need "the Church" (the Body of Christ) to stay focused on this simple and essential mission statement for our lives: love one another.

Mystagogia continues this Sunday at 10:45am.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

 

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter , April 21, 2013:

Acts of the Apostles 13: 14, 43-52
Psalm 100: 1-3, 5
Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
John 10: 27-30

 
One of the most ancient and prevalent images of Jesus Christ among early Christians was that of the Good Shepherd.  A professional shepherd was well acquainted with his sheep, understanding the personality, strengths and foibles of each one, and personally concerned for their welfare. A hired hand would likely not have the inclination or investment to really care that much, or put themselves in harm's way to save an animal.

It's tough for us to accept being called 'sheep', though. I can tell you from recent experience on our Ireland pilgrimage that sheep can be smelly! And they don't have a reputation for brilliance. (Although gamboling lambs ARE irresistibly cute)  But in Jesus' day and culture, sheep were regarded as honorable animals. In that culture, an honorable man would suffer in silence,  protecting one's honor even to death, if necessary. They noticed that sheep being shorn or being prepared for slaughter did not cry out (see Isaiah 53:7) and so transferred that notion of honor to them.

What does that mean for us?  Not that we simply suffer in silence, but that we might contemplate the relationship between a good shepherd, a true leader, and the sheep s/he tends. If you know that you are looked after, cared for, and well-known by one entirely commited to your welfare, what does that mean for your ability to trust in God's Word and promises?

Mystagogia contiues this Sunday at 10:45am.
Inquiry will be on Tuesday, April 23.

Easter- The Resurrection of the Lord!

Here is the text of Pope Francis' homily for the Easter Vigil:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. In the Gospel of this radiant night of the Easter Vigil, we first meet the women who go the tomb of Jesus with spices to anoint his body (cf. Lk 24:1-3). They go to perform an act of compassion, a traditional act of affection and love for a dear departed person, just as we would. They had followed Jesus, they had listened to his words, they had felt understood by him in their dignity and they had accompanied him to the very end, to Calvary and to the moment when he was taken down from the cross. We can imagine their feelings as they make their way to the tomb: a certain sadness, sorrow that Jesus had left them, he had died, his life had come to an end. Life would now go on as before. Yet the women continued to feel love, the love for Jesus which now led them to his tomb. But at this point, something completely new and unexpected happens, something which upsets their hearts and their plans, something which will upset their whole life: they see the stone removed from before the tomb, they draw near and they do not find the Lord’s body. It is an event which leaves them perplexed, hesitant, full of questions: “What happened?”, “What is the meaning of all this?” (cf. Lk 24:4). Doesn’t the same thing also happen to us when something completely new occurs in our everyday life? We stop short, we don’t understand, we don’t know what to do. Newness often makes us fearful, including the newness which God brings us, the newness which God asks of us. We are like the Apostles in the Gospel: often we would prefer to hold on to our own security, to stand in front of a tomb, to think about someone who has died, someone who ultimately lives on only as a memory, like the great historical figures from the past. We are afraid of God’s surprises; we are afraid of God’s surprises! He always surprises us!

Dear brothers and sisters, let us not be closed to the newness that God wants to bring into our lives! Are we often weary, disheartened and sad? Do we feel weighed down by our sins? Do we think that we won’t be able to cope? Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which he cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to him.

2. But let us return to the Gospel, to the women, and take one step further. They find the tomb empty, the body of Jesus is not there, something new has happened, but all this still doesn’t tell them anything certain: it raises questions; it leaves them confused, without offering an answer. And suddenly there are two men in dazzling clothes who say: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; but has risen” (Lk 24:5-6). What was a simple act, done surely out of love – going to the tomb – has now turned into an event, a truly life-changing event. Nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of those women, but also in our own lives and in the history of mankind. Jesus is not dead, he has risen, he is alive! He does not simply return to life; rather, he is life itself, because he is the Son of God, the living God (cf. Num 14:21-28; Deut 5:26; Josh 3:10). Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future; he is the everlasting “today” of God. This is how the newness of God appears to the women, the disciples and all of us: as victory over sin, evil and death, over everything that crushes life and makes it seem less human. And this is a message meant for me and for you, dear sister, dear brother. How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead? Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness… and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!

Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do.

3. There is one last little element that I would like to emphasize in the Gospel for this Easter Vigil. The women encounter the newness of God. Jesus has risen, he is alive! But faced with empty tomb and the two men in brilliant clothes, their first reaction is one of fear: “they were terrified and bowed their faced to the ground”, Saint Luke tells us – they didn’t even have courage to look. But when they hear the message of the Resurrection, they accept it in faith. And the two men in dazzling clothes tell them something of crucial importance: “Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee… And they remembered his words” (Lk 24:6,8). They are asked to remember their encounter with Jesus, to remember his words, his actions, his life; and it is precisely this loving remembrance of their experience with the Master that enables the women to master their fear and to bring the message of the Resurrection to the Apostles and all the others (cf. Lk 24:9). To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have traveled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. May we learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives.

On this radiant night, let us invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who treasured all these events in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19,51) and ask the Lord to give us a share in his Resurrection. May he open us to the newness that transforms. May he make us men and women capable of remembering all that he has done in our own lives and in the history of our world. May he help us to feel his presence as the one who is alive and at work in our midst. And may he teach us each day not to look among the dead for the Living One. Amen.

A Reflection for Holy Week

 

Words from Pope Francis during his first general audience today....  it is well worth the time to read and reflect on it...

With Palm Sunday we began this week - the center of the whole liturgical year - in which we accompany Jesus in His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

But what does it mean for us to live Holy Week? What does it means to follow Jesus on His way to the Cross on Calvary and the Resurrection? In His earthly mission, Jesus walked the streets of the Holy Land; He called twelve simple people to remain with Him, to share His journey and continue His mission; He chose them among the people full of faith in the promises of God. He spoke to everyone, without distinction, to the great and the lowly; to the rich young man and the poor widow, the powerful and the weak; He brought the mercy and forgiveness of God to all; He healed, comforted, understood, gave hope, He led all to the presence of God, who is interested in every man and woman, like a good father and a good mother is interested in each child. 

God did not wait for us to go to Him, but He moved towards us, without calculation, without measures. This is how God is: He is always the first, He moves towards us. Jesus lived the daily realities of most ordinary people: He was moved by the crowd that seemed like a flock without a shepherd, and He cried in front of the suffering of Martha and Mary on the death of their brother Lazarus; He called a tax collector to be His disciple and also suffered the betrayal of a friend. In Christ, God has given us the assurance that He is with us, in our midst. "Foxes", Jesus said, "have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head" (Mt 8:20). Jesus did not have a home because His house is the people -- that is, us; His mission is to open all God’s doors, to be the loving presence of God. 

In Holy Week we live the highest point of this journey, this loving plan that runs throughout the entire history of the relationship between God and humanity. Jesus enters Jerusalem to take the final step, in which His whole existence is summarized: He gives Himself totally, He keeps nothing for Himself, not even His life. At the Last Supper, with His friends, He shares the bread and distributes the chalice "for us." The Son of God is offered to us, He consigns His Body and his Blood into our hands to be with us always, to dwell among us. And on the Mount of Olives, as in the trial before Pilate, He puts up no resistance, He gifts Himself: He is the Suffering Servant foretold by Isaiah, who stripped himself unto death (cf. Is 53:12). 

Jesus does not live this love that leads to sacrifice passively or as a fatal destiny; certainly He does not hide His deep human commotion in the face of a violent death, but He entrusts Himself with full confidence to the Father. Jesus voluntarily consigned Himself to death to respond to the love of God the Father, in perfect union with His will, to demonstrate His love for us. On the Cross, Jesus "loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20). Each of us can say, "He loved me and gave Himself for me." Everyone can say that "for me"!

What does this mean for us? It means that this is my, your, our path. Living Holy Week following Jesus not only with the emotions of the heart; living Holy Week following Jesus means learning how to go beyond ourselves - as I said on Sunday - to reach out to others, to go to the outskirts of existence, to be the first to move towards our brothers and sisters, especially those who are most distant, those who are forgotten, those who are most in need of understanding, consolation and help. There is so much need to bring the living presence of Jesus, merciful and full of love!

Living Holy Week means increasingly entering into God's logic, the logic of the Cross, which is not first of all that of pain and death, but of love and of self-giving that brings life. It means entering into the logic of the Gospel. Following, accompanying Christ, remaining with Him requires a "stepping outside," a stepping beyond. Stepping outside of ourselves, of a tired and routine way of living the faith, of the temptation to withdraw into pre-established patterns that end up closing our horizon to the creative action of God. God stepped outside of Himself to come among us, He pitched His tent among us to bring the mercy of God that saves and gives hope. Even if we want to follow Him and stay with Him, we must not be content to remain in the enclosure of the ninety-nine sheep, we have to "step outside", to search for the lost sheep together with Him, the one furthest away. Remember well: stepping outside of ourselves, like Jesus, like God has stepped outside of Himself in Jesus and Jesus stepped outside of Himself for all of us. 

Some might say to me, "But, Father, I have no time", "I have so many things to do", "it is difficult", "what can I do with my little strength?", with my sin, with so many things? Often we settle for a few prayers, a distracted and inconsistent presence at Sunday Mass, a random act of charity, but we lack this courage to "step outside" to bring Christ. We are a bit like St. Peter. As soon as Jesus speaks of the Passion, Death and Resurrection, of self-giving, of love for all, the Apostle takes him aside and rebukes him. What Jesus says upsets his plans, seems unacceptable, undermines the sense of security that he had built up, his idea of ​​the Messiah. And Jesus looks at the disciples and addresses Peter with perhaps one of the strongest words of the Gospel: "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do"(Mk 8:33).

God always thinks with mercy: do not forget this. God always thinks with mercy: our merciful Father. God thinks like a father who awaits the return of his child and goes to meet him, sees him coming when he is still far away ... What does this mean? That each and every day he went out to see if his son was coming home. This is our merciful Father. It is the sign that he was waiting for him from the terrace of his house; God thinks like the Samaritan that does not approach the victim to commiserate with him, or look the other way, but to rescue him without asking for anything in return, without asking if he was Jew, if he was pagan, a Samaritan, rich or poor: he does not ask anything – he does not ask these things, he asks for nothing. He goes to his aid: This is how God thinks. God thinks like the shepherd who gives his life to defend and save his sheep. 

Holy Week is a time of grace which the Lord gifts us to open the doors of our hearts, our lives, our parishes - what a pity, so many parishes are closed! - in our parishes, movements, associations, and to "step outside" towards others, to draw close to them so we can bring the light and joy of our faith. Always step outside yourself! And with the love and tenderness of God, with respect and patience, knowing that we put our hands, our feet, our hearts, but then it is God who guides them and makes all our actions fruitful. 

May you all live these days well, following the Lord with courage, and carrying within ourselves a ray of His love for all those whom we meet.