Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A)

Here are the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A), March 17, 2013:

Ezekiel 37: 12-14
Psalm 130: 1-8
Romans 8: 8-11
John 11: 1-45


"We've got a new Pope, Ms. Cathy!!!!!", one of my young friends declared loudly in the hallway today! There was such excitement in his voice, an excitement echoed by so many Catholics around the world, in recognition of a fresh start, a new beginning-- with all the unknown possibilities this presents.

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Easter comes at the time when the Earth brings forth new life: glorious displays of flowers, leaves sprouting on trees, migrating birds and animals returning. The readings for this week speak in a more low-key fashion about new beginnings.

Ezekiel reports the Lord's promise of a new day, a fresh start:

O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them ...
I will put my spirit in you that you may live ...

And the Gospel gives us the long and moving story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. We find in this account not only the strength of God to overcome death, but the compassion of God who weeps with us and for us.

• In what ways do you feel like Lazarus, what feels dead in you, how are you bound and unable to free yourself?
• What do you think life was like for Lazarus after that miraculous day?
• How will the celebration of Easter this year mean a new beginning for you?

We will celebrate the Third Scrutiny with the Presentation of the Lord's Prayer at the 11:30AM Mass this Sunday.

Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year A)

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year A), March 10, 2013:

1 Samuel 16: 1B, 6-7, 10-13A
Psalm 23: 1-6
Ephesians 5: 8-14
John 9: 1-41

• What are your spiritual 'blindspots'?
• In what ways do you need Christ to enlighten you?

The Second Scrutiny for Elect will be celebrated at the 5:30pm Mass this Sunday, March 10.

Third Sunday in Lent (Year A)

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday in Lent (Year A), March 3, 2013:
Exodus 17: 3-7
Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-9
Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8
John 4: 5-42

Are you wondering why we are not doing the 'normal' readings for Year C? Whenever a parish has adults (and children over age 7) preparing for the Easter Sacraments - the Sacraments of Initiation- we take the 3rd, 4th. and 5th Sundays in Lent to focus on the foundational symbols of baptism, and the Gospels in the A cycle of readings are particularly suited to that focus.

We believe baptism gives us new life, a fresh start- like the spring bulbs emerging from the barren ground, watered by the rain. We believe that only in God can our ultimate desires be met, our deepest thirsts quenched. We trust that those places deep within ourselves that are parched, dry and weary can truly be revived by the One who promises living water.

• In what way are you parched?
• For what new growth are you hopeful?
• How are you isolated from others, or cause others to feel outcast? How might that be addressed?
  
  The First Scrutiny for our Elect (Lori, Evelyn, Emily, Richard, Alaina and Natalie) will be at the 9:30am Mass this Sunday, followed by a regular session.

Second Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 24, 2013:
Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
Psalm 27: 1, 7-9, 13-14
Philemon 3: 17- 4: 1
Luke 9: 28b-36

The Genesis reading and the Gospel share what might be called 'close encounters of the divine kind'. In both, human beings 'wake up' to discover a brilliant presence.

In Genesis, God symbolically shared a meal with Abram by passing between the offered animals, and in that way establishing a relational covenant. In Luke, Jesus, the Son of God, shares conversation with Moses and Elijah who represent the strong tradition of the Law and the Prophets. The apostles awakened to this recognition of Jesus as the fulfillment of both.

Both scriptures speak of the transformative nature of prayer... how conversing with and listening to God lead us to deeper faith, enlighten us with a clearer perspective, and give us the courage to set out on new pathways. The transfigured Jesus, shining with light and in brilliantly white clothes, is effectively an image for us through our baptism.

Let this week be a time of prayer and reflection on your 'close encounters' with God.

The Penitential Rite for Lisa and Kevin, our Candidates for Full Communion, will be at the 11:30am Mass.

First Sunday of Lent

Here are the readings for the First Sunday in Lent, February 17, 2013:
Deuteronomy 26: 4-10
Psalm 91: 1-2, 10-15
Romans 10: 8-13
Luke 4: 1-13

What's your story? Moses reminded the people how God was always with them by recounting their history, all the way back to Abraham.

What does your story say about you? Paul reminds the Romans of the power of God's word-- our story of faith seen in the light of the Mystery of God-- to make us who were are, to redeem us and help us live in right relationship with this God who doesn't keep secrets. Our stories are part of the story of Scripture, and the Word of God shapes, received in faith, shapes who we are and how we live.

How do you make sense of your story? Jesus and the devil have very different perspectives on what it means to be the Messiah, the Son of God. By what standards do you interpret your life story; how are you guided in making choices and plans?

We begin this season of Lent, intentionally connecting God's workings and stirrings in our own lives with the deep and timeless truth of Scripture. May our prayer this week echo the prayer of Psalm 91: “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

The combined Rite of Sending will be at the 5:30pm Mass this Saturday, and we will be going to the Rite of Election at 4pm at St Thomas More in Chapel Hill. Those who wish to carpool, please leave from St. Andrew's by 2:45pm.  There is no catechetical session this Sunday.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 10, 2013:
Isaiah 6: 1-2a, 3-8
Psalm 138: 1-5, 7-8
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Luke 5: 1-11

I'm not making this up! That might be a glib summary of Paul's words to the Corinthians. He is emphasizing that the message that he gave them about Jesus didn't come from his own imagination or creative thinking, but was revealed to him by Christ, and is the same message that a solid reading of Scripture, or a good talk with the original apostles and disciples would provide. That's a long way around of defining 'Tradition'. We hand on what we have received... from God's mouth to our hearts, from generation to generation.  The message remains true, protected from the vagaries that come from that children's game of 'telephone' (where the original message becomes something entirely different by the end of the line!) by the guiding presence of God's Holy Spirit in our Church.

Isaiah in the first reading and Simon Peter in the Gospel are both doubtful of their worthiness. In comparison to the grandeur of The Lord, in the face of the power over nature displayed by Jesus, who could measure up? Well, we can't. But the Good News is- it's not a competition! God wins; and when God wins, everybody wins! God calls us into partnership in the mission of loving service and sacrifice. God invites us into the very life of the Trinity... empowered by the Spirit to praise God by and through our lives.

• Who first taught you about God?
• What do you think is the difference between "Tradition" and "traditions"?
• How do you think God is calling you into mission?

The Mystagogia group meets this Sunday at 10:45am in Room 212.
The topic for the Catechumenate is Tradition and traditions.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 3, 2013:
Jeremiah 1: 4-5-6, 17-19
Psalm 71: 1-6, 15-17
1 Corinthians 12: 31- 13: 13
Luke 4: 21-30

The psalmist implores God:

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians muses about having faith strong enough to

move mountains.

And Jesus narrowly escapes being hurled down the hill of his own hometown by his fellow Jews!

So, what do these varied images of geological formations have to tell us about anything? And how is it that we read again and again of rocks and stones in our Scripture?

• The house built on a solid foundation (Mt 7:21, Lk 6:46)
• The Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5)
• The seed on rocky ground.. ( Lk 8: 6)
• Let the one without sin cast the first stone... (Jn 8: 7)
• The stone across the tomb (Mk 15: 46)

The stone, the rock, the mountain can be a weapon, place of danger or symbol of being 'set in stone' (hard-hearted', immovable).  They can also speak to us of protection, surety, a new vantage point, a safe refuge.

In the Gospel, Jesus used the firm foundation of the prophet Isaiah to define his 'mission statement', and his neighbors in the synagogue were just as firm in their expectations for him to stay in place (the carpenter's son becomes a carpenter- what's wrong with him?!).  That's a challenge many of us face as well-- the pressure to fulfill the expectations of others, whether or not that means being true to ourselves. And yet God's Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the gifts that provide refuge and strength to carry out our mission - the mission of all baptized in Christ: to love and serve as Jesus did.

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