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.