Little is known about Pope Benedict XVI's reflections on ecology and care for God's creation but the possibility of a first-of-it's-kind new hybrid Pope-mobile makes some news!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
June 26th, 2011: Sunday Gospel Reflection
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| John 6:51-58 |
In today’s Gospel we read from Chapter 6 the Gospel of John, called the Bread of Life Discourse (I would recommend reading the whole passage from John 6:22-71). In this story a crowd follows Jesus in boats across the Sea of Galilee to track Him down. He had recently performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 and many were amazed and wanted to listen to Him and see what He was going to do next. When they track Him down Jesus’ message is that the real miracle is not multiplying physical food but feeding people spiritually, “do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” The crowd did not understand and asked for another miracle from Jesus; they didn’t get it!
When Jesus continued to explain that He Himself was the bread, the food that endures, “my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink” the crowd got upset with Him and many went away disappointed because, “this teaching is hard to accept”. Instead of calling them back and clarifying that what He meant was figurative Jesus stayed on message and turned to ask His disciples if they would leave Him too. By God’s grace they did not leave Jesus (though they would not fully understand what Jesus meant until later).
At the Last Supper, the night before Jesus was put to death, Jesus instituted a ritual action to make Himself present with us even after His death and resurrection. “Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’”. Jesus’ disciples did what Jesus told them to “do this in remembrance of me”. From the earliest Christian writings we have accounts where the followers of Jesus would gather on Sundays and break bread; they celebrated Eucharist so that they may be strengthened by the Body and Blood of Jesus which St. Ignatius of Antioch (who was born less than 20 years after Jesus died) called the “medicine of immortality”. Through this ritual action handed down from Jesus through the Apostles, other Bishops, and priests for over two thousand years we are able to continue to celebrate the Eucharist. We receive the Eucharist every Sunday to be renewed and strengthened, to become what we already are, both individually and as a community: the Body of Christ. It is not always easy to see Jesus’ presence with our eyes but we take Jesus at His word that this is my body which was given up for us on the cross and continues to be given for us each Sunday.
Jesus cares intimately about you, wants to be near to you and has given us a way to nourish our bodies and souls. Thank you Jesus for the gift of yourself present in the Eucharist. I believe in You.
Gospel in Action
-Sometimes it is difficult to believe in something we cannot see. In these moments we can pray the prayer of St. Thomas (who had trouble believing in the Resurrection): “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief”
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day!
It is important that we celebrate Fathers' Day well! Dads are important and sadly their role in many people's lives is underdeveloped or under-appreciated.
Take some time to day to show love and prayer for those fathers in your life: parents, priests, grandparents, and those who have gone before us that have played a role in fathering us. As Christians we can ask for the prayers of the father of Jesus in a special way to pray for our own fathers.
When I was in college there was this twice than life-size statue of Saint Joseph that said "Joseph, father of Jesus, be our father". I think this is an important prayer and an idea one that is often overlooked: as we are brothers and sisters of Jesus we can also ask Joseph to be our father-figure by asking for his prayer and support. He went through the same struggles and joys that all fathers experience and he is our model for what it means to be a holy father; we can learn so much from a man who never says a word in the Gospels!
And to my dad who takes the time to read my random ministerial musings...thank you dad for being an amazing role-model and father and continuing to teach me so much in both word and actions. I love you.
Friday, June 17, 2011
June 19th, 2011: Trinity Sunday Gospel Reflection
The Holy Trinity
This Sunday is another big day (feast day) for the Catholic Church throughout the world. Today we celebrate The Most Holy Trinity, God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Spirit!
We believe that the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life (CCC 234); this is the most core belief for Christians. For thousands of years Christians have struggled to understand how we can only believe in one God if we talk about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There is no easy or complete answer to this question but here are a few quick thoughts to better understand the Trinity:
1. God is transcendent. He is infinite and He created us. He is a mystery that we can always dive deeper into, a person we can always learn more about. It is impossible to try to fully ‘make sense’ of or ‘get’ God (this is a problem that science cannot explain…knowing God requires faith and trust). “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
2. We can only know God through His effects, the ways that He has revealed Himself to us. From the Traditions in the Old Testament, New Testament, and continued through our Church today God has chosen to reveal Himself to us as a Father, as Jesus the Son, and as the Spirit.
3. God is active and dynamic love (self-gift). St. Augustine, writing in the 5th century, said helping to explain the Trinity that “wherever there is love, there is trinity: a lover, a beloved, and a fountain of love”. Love is not a static process but is constantly active and at work. Love also is procreative, it can’t help but be shared and overflow. The love of the Father for the Son is manifest as the Spirit. The inner dynamic relationship of the three persons of the Trinity is so active and powerful that it overflows into the world—this is the act of creation. God’s love continues to be poured forth. Our mission as Christians is to be open to allow God’s life overflowing, to allow His Love to fill us, and to share that cup with those around us. When we do this we enter into the same dynamic rhythm, movement or dance that is God’s life.
-How open am I to allow God’s presence to fill me?
-What do I need to get rid of in my heart to allow more space for God?
This Week
- Make the Sign of the Cross the next time you pray! Every time we mark ourselves with the ‘sign of the cross’ we are saying a prayer and making a commitment to faith. When we sign ourselves in the name of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit we affirm our belief in the Trinity and that the Divine Life of God dwells within us!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
What is Pentecost?
From BustedHalo.com...
Can’t remember what or when Pentecost is? Well for starters, it’s this Sunday; and if you want a little more info on this celebration of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church, take a look at Busted Halo’s two minute video.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
June 12th 2011: Pentecost Gospel Reflection II
Happy Pentecost!
Happy Birthday Catholic Church!
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Questions for Discussion and Reflection
-In the second reading (1 Corinthians chapter 12) St. Paul writes that to each individual the manifestation of the Spirit has been given for some benefit. What do you have to offer the world? What are the ways the Holy Spirit is made present to others through you or through others whom you are close?
Gospel in Action
-Say a prayer today directed to God the Holy Spirit to be with you. “Dear Holy Spirit….”
-One of the most ancient prayers of the Catholic Church is repeating the words ‘Come Holy Spirit’ (or “veni sancte spiritus” in Latin) as a repeatable prayer or mantra. Use the beads of a rosary or your fingers to pray these words 50 times and allow God to dwell within you.
Friday, June 10, 2011
June 12th 2011: Pentecost Gospel Reflection I
Happy Pentecost!
Happy Birthday Catholic Church!
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| John 20: 19-23 |
Today Catholics throughout the world celebrate a special day or feast day called “Pentecost”; Pentecost is the Birthday of the Church! The word Pentecost means ‘the 50th day’ (think pentagon) and celebrates 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead at Easter. It was on the 50th day after Easter when Jesus appeared to the Apostles who were hiding in a locked room for fear they would be killed. Jesus appeared to them, calmed their fears and shame saying Peace be with you and gave the Holy Spirit to His Apostles by breathing on them. The word ‘Spirit’ means ‘breath’ and Jesus gives us God’s own breath, the Holy Spirit, to be with us always. Every time we take a physical breath in and out we can be reminded that it is God’s Spirit in our bodies and our souls that gives us life.
When Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the Apostles He was commissioning them with a special purpose; this is the beginning of the Catholic Church. Before He breathed on them He said, As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Jesus said Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. What is Jesus sending them to do? Not only to bring healing to others by forgiving sins but as we heard in the Gospel last week, before Jesus ascended to the Father in Heaven he told his Apostles, Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus sends his disciples, ourselves included, to bring the Good News to everyone we meet and promised that we will not go alone, but that He will be with us always. Jesus fulfills that promise by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Presence of the Holy Spirit guides each of us and guides the Church. No matter if we or others make mistakes we know that God does not and that the presence of the Holy Spirit leads us even through challenging times.
In the Sacrament of Confirmation we enter more deeply into being a follower of Jesus by receiving from a successor of the Apostles (a Bishop) what Jesus gave to the Apostles and has been passed down for nearly 2,000 years: the Holy Spirit. Like the Apostles we too are commissioned to bring the transforming love of Jesus to our world. In our Sacraments and prayer we ask the Spirit of God to come and dwell with us (this is called epiclesis). Through the presence of God’s Spirit, his breath, God is always with his Church (each of us) as He promised.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
A Summer Prayer:
Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun
and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all
around me and for the opportunity to
be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I
have to be with my friends and family,
and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray no matter
where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of
Your presence and light my path with
Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation, create in me
a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
Amen.
(Taken from "Letters From a Young Catholic" Blog)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
June 5th, 2011: Gospel Reflection II
The Ascension
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Questions for Discussion and Reflection
-Where do I ‘plug in’ to receive the support and energy of God’s presence?
-What are situations or activities in my life that unplug me from that energy?
-Does the way I live my life reflect that God has given me A Great Commissioning?
-What does it mean for me to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations? Am I comfortable with this?
-What is one concrete way that I can share my faith with others?
Saturday, June 4, 2011
June 5th, 2011: Gospel Reflection I
The Ascension
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| Matthew 28:16-20 |
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Ascension (which traditionally is celebrated on a Thursday, 40 days after Easter). After Jesus rose from the dead the Scriptures recall that He appeared to His disciples on multiple occasions until the day that he ascended to the Father. Jesus’ Ascension to the Father closes a chapter in the book of God’s Salvation History, God’s ongoing relationship with humanity to bring each of us to the fullness of life with God in heaven (salvation). Yet while Jesus’ Ascension means that He is in Heaven with Our Father and that his body is no longer present on earth this does not mean that He is no longer active in our world. Jesus’ Ascension opens a new chapter in God’s relationship with us, the Age of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promises his disciples and each of us right before He ascended to the Father that “I am with you always, until the end of the age”; these were His last words to his disciples. Jesus is truly with us and next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, when Jesus appeared to His disciples and breathed the Holy Spirit of God into them to be with them forever. How do we receive that same Spirit?
Right before Jesus told his friends that He would be with them He gave them what is called The Great Commissioning to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. Early on the Apostles passed on the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments, baptizing others, forgiving them of their sins, gathering each Lord’s Day to break bread together, etc. These Traditions have been handed on over thousands of years! It is through our Baptism, Confirmation and living a life plugged into the Sacraments (especially Reconciliation and Communion) that the energy of God’s presence can flow into us.
Jesus Ascending to Heaven does not limit His ability to be with us and to help us but magnifies it by interceding to God for us, sending the Spirit to dwell in each of us through our personal prayer and communal sacramental prayer, and by commissioning us to be His presence in our world and to tell people of God’s love.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
May 29th, 2011: Gospel Reflection II
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Response to the Good News
In the Second Reading Peter tells his fellow Christians to “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence…”.
-What is something about being Christian/Catholic that you do not understand well? Look into that question this week or ask a priest or someone else you trust!
-Next time you go to Mass pay special attention to the part of the prayers over the gifts where the priest asks the Holy Spirit to come down on the gifts; this is called the epiclesis (the calling down of the Holy Spirit).
-Look up the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (given at the Sacrament of Confirmation) and think about which Gift you are in most need of cultivating in your life today.
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