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  Many have withdrawn from engagement with the world out of certainty that they can hear those final trumpets warming up, that the rapture is nigh.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!