Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 3, 2014:

Isaiah 55: 1-3
Psalm 145: 8-9, 15-18
Romans 8: 35, 37-39
Matthew 14:13-21

 The descriptions of abundance portrayed in both the first reading and the Gospel reveal something very important about God: infinite generosity. Let's not confuse this with the 'prosperity Gospel' that is so popular these days- God doesn't promise or cause material wealth. (Wealth not being bad in itself, and can be used for very good results (think of the women mentioned as helping to finance Jesus' ministry, for example.) Instead, we turn to the refrain of the psalm to help us re-focus on the essentials: "The hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs",

All we have, all we are, comes from God. In taking that step to share of ourselves, we open the way for God to do even more wonderful things in our lives, and in the lives of those we reach out to. Remembering that we are the caretakers, the stewards rather than masters or owners of our talents and possessions, is an important step along the path of discipleship.

The topic for the Catechumenate today is Eucharist.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 27, 2014:

I Kings 3: 5, 7-12
Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130
Romans 8: 28-30
Matthew 13: 44-52

We're in the midst of the part of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus is using parables to try to convey to his listeners some reality about God and/or those who might follow God.

As you reflect on these readings in preparation for Mass this weekend, maybe this column will also be helpful.

• What is your treasure?
• What have you or might you give up in order to obtain it?

The Catechumenate theme this Sunday is the Kingdom of God.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time,

July 20, 2014:

Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19
Psalm 86: 5-6, 9-10, 15-16
Romans 8: 26-27
Matthew 13: 24-43

The Gospel this week, if we proclaim the entire passage, is long and contains three parables. And we might be justified in wondering what relation those last two (mustard seed and yeast) have to do with the first (weeds and wheat). 
Let's consider the Gospel in the context of the rest of the Scripture readings this week, with their emphasis on the strength, mercy and compassion of God.  An act of mercy and forgiveness on God's part- the One who is Infinitely All That Is Good- would be to God as small as a mustard seed, but to we who receive this compassion, it means the world.  And if we who receive this mercy in turn do our small part to extend mercy to others, the effect balloons and extends well beyond the limits of our comprehension.

• How have you felt God's mercy in your life?
• How have you been compassionate to others?

We will celebrate a Rite of Acceptance and Welcoming at the 5:30pm Mass this Sunday, July 20.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
July 13, 2014:

Isaiah 55: 10-11
Psalm 65: 10-14
Romans 8: 18-23
Matthew 13: 1-23


As you prepare for the Scripture readings this Sunday, I encourage you to click this link and read this reflection by Fr. James Martin, S.J.   These stories seem so long ago and far away- it helps to remember that Jesus was a real person, talking with real people ... and our Lord continues to converse with us today.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 6, 2014:
Zechariah 9: 9-10
Psalm 145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14
Romans 8: 9, 11-13
Matthew 11: 25-30

Biblical scholar John J. Pilch writes that a yoke is "a word used metaphorically to describe those things that control the lives of people."  In that light, this Sunday's Scriptures might cause us to reflect on what controls our lives, either by choice or by circumstance. What are your highest priorities, honestly? Living comfortably, being admired, being in charge, settling scores?  In what ways do these choices actually control you?

Jesus invites us to follow his example, to put on his yoke and let him guide our lives. A well-fitting yoke does not chafe, but actually makes the job easier.  If we have the grace to trust Jesus and accept his way of living, we just might come to a deeper understanding of the Mystery of a God who loves us without limit. It just might change our lives!

Mystagogia will be at 10:45am this Sunday.
Inquiry will meet at 7:00pm this Tuesday.

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

(with apologies for the extended 'vacation')

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), June 22, 2014:
Deuteronomy 8: 2-3, 14b-16a
Psalm 147: 12-15, 19-20
1 Corinthians 10: 16-17
John 6: 51-58

On this feast, we turn our attention to the gift of Jesus' real presence for us in the Eucharist, a gift of sacrifice and love that nourishes us to offer our daily lives in loving sacrifice for others.

Here's a video that helps explain how Catholic understand the Eucharist:

Please click this link if the video does not show on your screen.

Ash Wednesay, Lent

Rend your hearts, 
not your garments...
(Joel 2: 13)

With Ash Wednesday we begin a new season of the church year. We pray for and with one another as we enter into this time of preparation for Easter. Lent makes no sense without Easter. Easter is given its meaning by the reality of Lent: all is not well. The good news is that God WANTS all to be well, and will do anything to help us.

Lent is the time for us to look inward, to allow ourselves to be vulnerable to and honest with God. And in recognizing our need for God's help, the most difficult part may well be in accepting it.

In the Gospel for Ash Wednesday (Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18), Jesus is talking about prayer, fasting and almsgiving, or charity. Christians are called to practice these disciplines throughout our lives, but especially during Lent. But Jesus doesn't sound very supportive of them: go hide and pray, pretend you're happy when your stomach's growling and your head hurts, don't worry about getting your name on the donor wall. Jesus does say to DO these things, but make them a part of your ordinary, everyday life- not for show, recognition or even a tax write-off, but as the normal course of living as the people of God.

Have you ever driven out on a rural road and passed a farm where the field is on fire? The farmer is burning the stubble of the old crop down. There are at least two good reasons to do this: 1) it gets the leftover stuff out of the way so that when plowing time arrives, the process is easier and 2) the ashes from that stubble nourish the soil and replenish the nutrients that had been taken by the previous crop. Isn't this a bold action? What if a wind comes up and the fire gets out of control? The farmer surely knows what he or she is doing, and yet there is that element of vulnerability required in order to let that first spark find a place to land.

And so today we wear the ashes, reminded of our humble origins, our fragility, and our connectedness with all creation. The cross on our foreheads reminds us that death can lead to new life; that Jesus Christ is not only our savior whose name we bear, but also our model of how to live a healthy, holy life. We are marked as a community of faith, a holy people, those saved by Christ's death and resurrection and yet continually in need of conversion.

To prepare for the new fire of the Easter Vigil, to truly proclaim Christ as the light of the world and our lives, we have been given the gift of this season of Lent. May we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to be thankful for the blessings in our lives and to ask God's Spirit to transform us and bring us every closer to God so that in these ashes, we may find renewal.

Services for Ash Wednesday are at 6:30 and 9AM, Noon (not a Mass), 5:30 and 7:30pm